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Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series Resource Center
The SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) provides various resources and useful information for those in the disaster behavioral health field.
All resources for which links are provided are in the public domain or have been authorized for noncommercial use. Hardcopies of some materials may be ordered. If you use content from resources in this collection in program materials, you should acknowledge the source of the materials.
Did you know you can download your search results? Simply apply search filters and then click on the Download Filtered Resources link to obtain a .csv file with the resources you have found, including each resource’s name, description, date, URL, and source.
ASPR serves as the HHS Secretary’s principal advisory staff on matters related to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies and disasters. It also coordinates interagency activities responsible for emergency preparedness, planning, and the protection of the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism and other public health emergencies.
This web page includes information and resources related to using a trauma-informed approach when serving individuals experiencing homelessness. It explores the rates of trauma in the community of people who are homeless and provides guidance for supporting this community during disaster planning and response.
This section of the website of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response features a collection of resources related to information sharing during disaster response. These resources cover guidance and lessons learned from communication about past public health emergencies, and they include tools to support emergency communication planning.
This section of the website of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response describes and provides links to resources related to risk communication. These resources provide information about effective communication as part of disaster and emergency management and response.
This web page provides information, guidance, and tools to help states and localities account for the needs of people with access and functional needs in disaster planning and response. The page features workbooks, toolkits, checklists, executive actions, laws and regulations, and promising practices.
This fact sheet provides tips and a checklist to help people with disabilities, such as SMI, to prepare for sheltering in place or evacuation. Checklist items help to assess needs, create a medical needs summary, collect important documents, and build a survivor kit.
This document can be used by emergency management and disaster planners to assist them in preparing for the movement of psychiatric patients during disasters. Included are the basic assumptions planning staff may have about psychiatric patients and moving them, as well as some considerations for both planners and providers.
This online fact sheet provides information about five key elements of cultural competence related to disaster preparedness, as well as examples of each element. This information can help increase cultural awareness and knowledge for disaster responders that they can use to adapt to, and serve effectively in, different cultural contexts. Links to resources for additional information are also provided.
This collection provides resources related to using social media effectively as part of overall emergency management. Disaster behavioral health professionals and emergency managers can use these resources to assist them in communicating with the public via social media and making social media part of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
Developed for healthcare and social services workers, this set of modules includes links to videos, checklists, and toolkits to help professionals in health care and social services recognize their stress levels and engage in self-care and resilience building. The three modules guide participants through discussion concerning compassion fatigue, stress mitigation, and strategies for coping, and include links to relevant resources and trainings.
This blog post discusses the importance of addressing issues related to opioid misuse and addiction as part of overall disaster preparedness, response, and recovery plans. It includes ways to plan for disruptions in treatment, as well as increases in illicit drug use.
This section of the website of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response provides a collection of resources covering disaster communication systems. These resources can be used by professionals to develop messaging and emergency communication plans and strategies.
This resource library collection highlights resources focused on mass violence incidents. It provides a collection of tip sheets about mass violence and active shooter incidents and includes links to other topic collections that focus on related topics.
This web page provides a collection of resources that highlight best practices and guidance for disaster responders serving tribal communities. It includes information regarding tribal declarations and disaster assistance, as well as cultural competence guidance and tools for disaster planners, responders, healthcare workers, and more.
Developed collaboratively by ASPR and NACCHO, this free online training provides organizational leaders and team members with strategies and considerations to support an organization’s personnel during disaster response. The training references Psychological First Aid as a foundational tool to address disaster-related stress in the workplace.