Volunteer Opportunity Details:

Last updated on June 29, 2009

What are disaster behavioral health response teams?
These teams consist of individuals who are trained to respond to the emotional needs of victims, bystanders, responders and any others reacting to the stress and trauma of a disaster. They are knowledgeable about disaster reactions and can provide a variety of interventions.

Why are these teams helpful?
One of the basic tenets of disaster response is that “no one who sees a disaster is untouched by it”. Traumatic stress and loss can cause sadness, anger, isolation, etc. In addition, populations that are particularly vulnerable, such as children or the elderly, can become even more vulnerable after a traumatic event.

What types assistance can these teams provide?
In a disaster teams will be deployed into the community to assess the needs of citizens. They may provide support in shelters or places where victims and responders convene, or anywhere they are requested. Once assessment is completed, they can provide psychological first aid, crisis counseling, stress reduction, outreach, psycho-education, and referral if necessary. Team members can also provide support to emergency workers who are under high levels of stress. Not only can they help individuals heal but they can help the community heal as well.

Team composition
The disaster behavioral health response teams are composed of mental health and substance abuse clinicians, spiritual leaders, natural community helpers and others with experience in behavioral health. Team leaders are licensed mental health clinicians and the teams are supervised statewide by the Program Director of Disaster Behavioral Health Services.

How to become a responder
All responders are required to attend a two day training offered periodically throughout the state. In this training responders will learn about disaster reactions, disaster interventions and how to work within the disaster response system. Prior to being deployable, responders are required to undergo a criminal background check and to complete a free online training about incident management offered through FEMA (This training is also periodically offered in person free of charge to potential disaster behavioral health volunteers).

This opportunity is sponsored by: Maine CDC - Disaster Behavioral Health

We need volunteers who are free at these times Occasional This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers Adults (26-54) Unpaid Interns Adults (55+) Young Adults (18-25) Individual

I'm interested in this opportunity

Contact Person: Pamela Holland, Program Director, (phone), (email) View all agency contacts

Address:

75 Stone Street Augusta, ME 04330 (See a map)

Web Site: None specified

Miscellaneous Information

Average number of hours per volunteer that are required weekly to do this task.
	there is no weekly/hourly requirement - volunteers are asked for their availability on a case by case basis when a disaster response is needed
We need the following number of people to fill this position.
	We would like to identify and train those individuals who are interested in becoming disaster beahvioral health volunteers with a gaol of have volunteers prepared wtihin each of MAine's 16 counties.

Last updated on June 29, 2009

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