PDN Article: Sept 28,
2013
The inclement weather last week seems to make
one wonder if a major storm is heading our way. It has been over 10 years since
we had typhoon and for many of us that have experienced several typhoons or
supertyphoons, vivid memories resonate on how difficult life could be without
running water, electricity and other conveniences for weeks. We count our many
blessings each time we are spared from a storm heading to our area.
We empathize with people in the Philippines,
Japan, Palau and other countries that suffered recently due to major flooding
and storming weathers.
When a supertyphoon hits our island, employees
at Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center know quite well what they are
expected to do, aside from their personal and familial responsibilities. As
first responders to the agency's clientele and vulnerable others out in the
community, the staff conducts outreach after the storm to locate where their
clients are and ensure their safety, as well as their psychiatric and related
needs, are taken care of.
Once the severity of the destruction has been
assessed to require a major recovery effort beyond the island's capability, we
become a presidentially declared disaster area. The center then is expected by
FEMA and SAMHSA to submit a grant application for the Individual Service
Program within 14 days after the presidential declaration.
The Individual Service Program provides
federal funding for Guam to hire or contract crisis counselors, professionals
and paraprofessionals to conduct outreach in the community to individuals who
are most affected by the disaster -- those with special needs, underserved
special populations, the homeless and at-risk populations, as well as to those
who are temporarily living at various shelters throughout the island.
Prior to the grant award, the first wave of
mental health crisis responders are the social workers and other employees of
the center. This work may take up to a month or more before the grant is
awarded and contractual arrangements are set up with community partners. Crisis
counselors are then recruited and trained ready to canvas the island in search
of children, families and individuals in need of immediate assistance.
Purpose and goal
The purpose of the outreach crisis counseling
is to help individuals and communities manage stress and recover from the
challenging effects of natural and human caused disasters.
This is accomplished through partnerships with
community providers in service delivery through a public health and education
approach, assessing individual emotional needs, other tangible needs, providing
them stress management skills, and referring and connecting people to services.
The primary goal of a crisis counseling
program is to reach out to people in need, conduct immediate assessment and
provide supportive intervention to empower the individuals and regain some
normalcy in their lives.
Outreach crisis counselors are often
paraprofessionals who get trained in various intervention skills, such as
relation and engagement skills, stress management, active listening, assessment
and data collection. Outreach crisis counselors are paid out of the Individual
Service Program grant funds throughout the duration of the grant period.
It is important to establish ahead of time a
pool of individuals -- trained, or not trained but interested in doing this
type of outreach work -- who are ready to respond once the need arises. If you
think this is something for you, come in to the I Famagu'on-ta office and
register yourself to be on the list to be trained to assist others in need.
Annie F.B. Unpingco,
LCSW, is administrator of I Famagu'on-ta at the Guam Behavioral Health and
Wellness Center.
