A Model For A Collaborative Social Work/Public Health Response to Traumatic and Catastrophic Events: Lessons Learned from Katrina by: Susan A. Hoffpauir, Ph.D., LCSW L. Annette Woodruff, MSW, LCSW

This presentation is made possible through a collaboration between NASW – Arkansas and the Arkansas Department of Health For a Better STATE of HEALTH

A Short History  Bioterrorism Grant - NASW AR and the Arkansas Dept. of Health ~ Began August 2004 ~ Original focus on mental health response to bioterrorism event Pandemic added in 2005  NASW-AR Prepared training curriculum Trained 14 regional team leaders Formed 7 state-wide teams

Sept ADH requested NASW Activate Teams in Response to Katrina  NASW trained an additional 200+ social workers and other mental health professionals in Central and Northwest Ark.  Collaborated with Dept. of Health to provide assessment and triage services to evacuees in 52 camps/shelters across the state.  Provided services to 800+ individuals and 250+ families in camps and shelters.  Collaborated with Clinton Foundation, Ark. Dept. of Education, and University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to provide training for educators and school counselors throughout the state.

Lessons Learned  Lesson #1: Need to distinguish between traumatic and catastrophic events

Traumatic Event  When an event (or a series of events) causes a sudden increase in stress, it is called a traumatic event. Traumatic events often are marked by a sense of horror or helplessness, and involve serious injury or death.

Catastrophic Event  When a traumatic event (or a series of traumatic events) significantly disrupts the lives of a large number of people and involves multiple communities, states, countries, or regions, it becomes a catastrophic event.

Forms of Traumatic and Catastrophic Events  Acts of Violence  Natural Disasters  Illness/Death from Biological Causes

 Lesson #2: Discovered the need for MORE social workers as mental health first responders! Social workers have the knowledge and skills to assess and intervene at all system levels.

Macro-Level Assess: Effect on larger community/region Skills: Community Organization Skills Interventions: Education Advocacy Mediation Mobilization Facilitation

Mezzo-Level Assess: Effect on delivery of services through organizations and institutions (e.g., schools, health care facilities, social service agencies, etc.) Skills: Process and Task Group Skills Interventions: Education Advocacy Mediation Mobilization Facilitation

Micro-Level Assess: Effect on Individuals and Families Physical and psychological needs of the individual. Effect on family relationships and functioning. Skills: Casework Skills Interventions: Assessment and Triage  Brokering/Referral Education Advocacy Mediation Facilitation

 Lesson #3: Social workers need additional training regarding treatment issues related to traumatic or catastrophic events.

Treatment Issues  Response to trauma can be confused with other problems/diagnoses  Physical response to trauma  Psychological response to trauma Guilt/Fear/Shock and Numbness Acute Stress Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

 Lesson #4: Need to establish strong collaborative relationships among first response service providers prior to event.

Service Systems Critical in Collaborative Response Efforts  Physical Health Systems Public Health, Hospitals, EMT’s, etc.  Mental Health Systems First responders, Agencies, State Hospital, etc  Educational Systems  Public Safety Systems Police, Firefighters, etc  Local, State, and Federal Governmental Systems  Informal Community Systems Churches, Social Organizations, etc

References  NASW-AR & Arkansas Division of Health (2004) “Learning to Be Aware and Prepared: Mental Health First Responders Training Manual.”  Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, “Understanding the Effects of Trauma and Traumatic Events to Help Prevent, Mitigate, and Foster Recovery for Individuals, Organizations, and Communities,”  Dayton, T. (2001). Untitled Document,  Ehrenreich, J. H. (2001). “Coping With Disasters: A Guidebook to Psychosocial Intervention” (Revised Edition),