Transcript PFA Volunteers

PFA Volunteer Responder
Program
City of Houston/Harris County
State Mandate for Local Emergency
Planning
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The Texas Disaster Act
The basic emergency management
responsibilities of local governments and state
agencies and officials are outlined in Chapter
418 of the Texas Government Code, the
Executive Order of the Governor Relating to
Emergency Management, and Title 37, Part I,
Chapter 7 (Emergency Management) of the
Texas Administrative Code.
Emergency Management Plan
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Each local or interjurisdictional emergency
management agency is required to prepare and keep
current an emergency management plan that provides
for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and
recovery.
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The plan must contain clear and complete statements of
the emergency responsibilities of local agencies and
officials.
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The plan must meet the state planning standards
promulgated by the Texas Division of Emergency
Management (TDEM).
Emergency Planning Documents
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Emergency planning documents consist of the basic plan,
supporting functional annexes, and, where appropriate,
appendices. The plan and its supporting documents should answer
the questions of what, why, who, when, where, and how.
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1. Basic Plan. The basic plan should be a relatively brief "umbrella"
document that cites appropriate legal authority for emergency
operations, outlines the jurisdiction’s emergency organization and
policies, provides a general concept for emergency operations, and
assigns general responsibilities for emergency planning and response
operations to specific departments, agencies, and groups.
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2. Annexes and Appendices. The basic plan is amplified by annexes
that describe how certain emergency functions will be performed. The
primary audience for these annexes is those who will perform the
function covered by the annex. Annexes may include appendices that
provide additional information pertinent to emergency functions.
Standardized Local Planning
Documents
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The Basic Plan
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Plan Annexes:
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Annex A:
Annex B:
Annex C:
Annex D:
Warning
Communications
Shelter & Mass Care
Radiological
Protection
Annex E: Evacuation
Annex F: Firefighting or Fire &
Rescue
Annex G: Law Enforcement
Annex H: Health & Medical
Service
Annex I: Emergency Public
Information
Annex J: Recovery
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Annex K: Public Works &
Engineering
Annex L: Utilities
Annex M: Resource
Management
Annex N: Direction & Control
Annex O: Human Services
Annex P: Hazard Mitigation
Annex Q: Hazardous Materials
& Oil Spill Response
Annex R: Search & Rescue
Annex S: Transportation
Annex T: Donations
Management
Annex U: Legal
Annex V: Terrorist Incident
Response
Annex W: Debris Management
Annex O – Human Services
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Provides for emergency public services during an
emergency or disaster, including provision of food,
water, and clothing and disaster mental health services
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“Some disaster survivors and emergency responders
may need mental health services in the aftermath of a
disaster. Many seeking such help can obtain aid from
existing local mental health programs and religious
groups. As the demand for such services may
increase significantly after a disaster and some local
providers may become disaster survivors, there may
be a need for additional mental health resources.”
Opportunity Knocks…
Since it is the responsibility of the City of
Houston and Harris County to ensure that
mental health services are provided to
their citizens in need in the aftermath of a
disaster, the two jurisdictions have
collaborated to establish the PFA
Volunteer Responder program to provide
these services immediately.
Flow Diagram: City of Houston and Harris County
PFA Volunteer Responder Coordination
Disaster Incident
Contained within the
COH
Within Harris County
but not in the COH
XOR
Addressed by the
COH OEM
Addressed by Harris
County OEM
The COH HDHHS
and Harris County
MHMRA DMH
services
coordinators
access the joint
PFA Volunteer
Responder
database
maintained by
Harris County
MHMRA
PFA Volunteer Responders are
coordinated via the COH HDHHS*
PFA Volunteer Responders are
coordinated via the Harris County
MHMRA*
PFA Volunteer
Responders are
activated and deployed
as resources allow
Disaster
Mental Health
Response
needs exceed
joint
resources
Legend:
XOR- either/or
TX DSHS is contacted
by OEM for respective
jurisdictions and DMH
assistance is
requested**
XOR
Crisis abated
*Unless mandated otherwise by the state or
federal government, the operation and
management of PFA Volunteer Responders
is the responsibility of the DMH coordinators
as outlined in the COH and Harris County
Annex Os.
**Assistance and resources from TX
Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
are requested as needed by COH &/or Harris
County OEM as defined in each jurisdiction’s
Emergency Plan.
What is PFA?
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Psychological First Aid (PFA) was developed by
the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder and the National Child Traumatic
Stress Network
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Five basic aspects:
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Make face-to-face contact with the survivor
Explore the dimensions of the problem
Examine alternative solutions
Assist in taking concrete actions
Make provisions for follow-up
PFA as an Intervention
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Psychological First Aid:
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Aids individuals during disasters and acts of
terrorism by providing practical support and
assistance
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Aims to reduce initial distress and foster short and
long-term adaptive functioning
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Emphasizes developmentally and culturally
appropriate interventions for survivors by providing
rapid assessments
Eight “Core Actions”
1.
Contact and Engagement
GOAL: To respond to contacts initiated by survivors, or to initiate contacts in a
nonintrusive, compassionate, and helpful manner
2.
Safety and Comfort
GOAL: To enhance immediate and ongoing safety, and provide physical and
emotional comfort
3.
Stabilization (if needed)
GOAL: To calm and orient emotionally overwhelmed or disoriented survivors
4.
Information Gathering: Current Needs and Concerns
GOAL: To identify immediate needs and concerns, gather additional
information, and tailor Psychological First Aid interventions
Eight “Core Actions”
5.
Practical Assistance
GOAL: To offer practical help to survivors in addressing immediate needs and
concerns
6.
Connection with Social Supports
GOAL: To help establish brief or ongoing contacts with primary support
persons and other sources of support, including family members, friends,
and community helping resources
7.
Information on Coping
GOAL: To provide information about stress reactions and coping to reduce
distress and promote adaptive functioning
8.
Linkage with Collaborative Services
GOAL: To link survivors with available services needed at the time or in the
future
Who Can Volunteer?
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Anyone interested in assisting and
supporting disaster survivors
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Licensed or unlicensed professionals
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No formal education in psychology and/or
counseling required
Things to Consider…
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Personal considerations
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Your comfort level with:
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Disaster relief
Working with survivors displaying an array of
emotional responses
Being in chaotic, unpredictable environments
Assisting people from diverse cultures,
ethnicities, developmental levels and faith
backgrounds
Things to Consider…
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Your current health
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Can you endure physically challenging conditions?
Have you experienced any recent emotional or
psychological challenges?
Have you had any experiences with loss or negative
life events (past or present)?
Your family situation
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Is your Family Emergency Plan up to date?
Is your family prepared for your absence?
Who will take care of your family responsibilities
while you are volunteering as a PFA Responder?
Things to Consider…
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Your work situation
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Is your employer supportive?
Do you have a flexible work schedule?
Will you be willing and able to help staff shifts up to 8-hours per
day?
Preparedness to engage in self-care and self-monitoring
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Are you aware of secondary stress reactions?
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difficulty sleeping, over-eating/under-eating
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irritability, anger, and frustration
Are you prepared to engage in physically and emotionally
challenging work?
What is Required of Volunteers?
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A 4½-hour classroom-based PFA training conducted by mental health
experts followed by two 1-hour discussion-based exercises via conference
calls a few weeks after the PFA training
-ORFor licensed mental health professionals, an on-line interactive PFA
course –
at http://learn.nctsn.org
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NIMS training (on-line): IS 700, 100, and 200 at http://training.fema.gov
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Signed liability waiver & confidentiality agreement
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Background check
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Participation in exercises and refresher training throughout the year
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A desire to assist in time of need
How will PFA Responders be
Activated?
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Will be contacted by an automated system or
team leader either pre- or post-disaster
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Will be assigned to a City of Houston or Harris
County mass-care site (POD, comfort station,
RLR, interim shelter, etc.)
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Will receive “just-in-time” training to include:
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PFA review
Triage and referral processes
Facility orientation
Why Volunteer?
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Provide support for people in need
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Learn a valuable skill through PFA training that can be
applied to any setting
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Receive CEUs
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Social work
Psychology
Counseling
Make a difference in the lives of others!
Interested?
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If you are interested in becoming a PFA Volunteer
Responder, please apply on-line at:
www.houstontx.gov/health/pfa.html
For more information, please contact:
City of Houston:
Bureau of Public Health
Preparedness
Houston Department of
Health and Human Services
832.393.4999
Harris County:
Risk Management
Services
MHMRA Legal and Risk
Management Department
713.970.7650