Welcome to the Disaster Response Network!
The Disaster Response Network (DRN), created by the American Psychological Association (APA), encourages licensed psychologists and mental health providers to join in partnership with the American Red Cross and other state and local agencies to provide pro bono mental health services to victims and responders of a disaster. The Alaska Psychological Association (AK-PA) has been developing a dynamic DRN committee to respond in times of disaster.
If you are interested in learning more about DRN, disaster response, and please contact our Executive Director at executivedirector@ak-pa.org.
Dates of Interest and future training opportunities:
American Red Cross (ARC) orientation trainings can be scheduled through the Red Cross. Please call 646-5400 to schedule. All required paperwork will be completed at that time.
We will be running another ‘Foundations of Disaster Mental Health’ and ‘Psychological First Aid’ course late winter. Check back periodically for dates and further information.
Special Notes:
All volunteers wanting to be deployed to a national disaster site will need to have a background check completed prior to deployment. If you anticipate asking for deployment, this needs to be done now to prevent delays in processing your request.
SAMHSA has posted a number of online videos of topics pertinent to disaster mental health. Click on the link below to start each video. Topics are listed here for your information.
http://www.samhsa.gov/Disaster/
Key Concepts in Disaster Mental Health
Managing Your Stress in Crisis Response Work
Psychological First Aid Approaches
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Disasters
Child Trauma & Schools: Disaster Response
Substance Use Disorders, Trauma, & Post-Traumatic Stress
Resources:
The APA’s Disaster Mental Health Information page
Response Network Member Guidelines
Effects of Traumatic Stress in a Disaster Situation
National Center for PTSD
University of Illinois Disaster Resources
DisasterHelp
FEMA Independent Study/ Emergency Management Institute
SAMHSA’s Disaster Technical Assistance Center
NCPTSD Psychological First Aid Manual