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Disaster Behavioral Health: Current Assets and Capabilities

Assets and capabilities for providing disaster behavioral health services (i.e., mental health, substance abuse, and stress management) to responders and survivors:

  • Human Resources: Volunteers

    • The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) includes licensed mental health professionals prepared to respond to emergencies.

    • The Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals (ESAR-VHP) includes state-registered licensed mental health professionals.

  • Human Resources: Civilian

    • National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) teams include deployable mental health personnel.

    • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) extends crisis and certain mental health services through vendor contracts.

    • Federal Occupational Health (FOH) can provide mental health services to Federal responders during disasters.

  • Human Resources: Commissioned Corps Officers

    • Approximately 150 Commissioned Corps mental health providers are rostered and available for deployment.

  • Grants/Benefits

    • FEMA's Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) provides individual and community crisis counseling and education.

    • SAMHSA Emergency Response Grant (SERG) funds public entities when resources are overwhelmed.

    • FEMA/ACF Disaster Case Management Pilot Project provides disaster case management within 72 hours post-declaration.

    • CDC oversees state/local grantees for preparedness grants, including behavioral health planning/steering.

    • CMS reimburses for mental health services via SCHIP, Medicaid, and Medicare.

    • HRSA provides supplemental grants to community health centers for long-term recovery.

  • Technical Assistance

    • ASPR ABC Division provides technical assistance on disaster behavioral health to HHS and partners.

    • SAMHSA DTAC provides consultation, expert access, technical assistance, and resources to communities and CCPs.

    • CDC conducts post-disaster surveillance and needs assessments to inform resource allocation.

  • Every state behavioral health agency has a Disaster Mental Health Coordinator.

  • State behavioral health response may rely on MRC, VOADs, and professional associations.

  • Most states have State Disaster Behavioral Health Plans coordinating with ESF #6 and #8.

  • Unmet needs committees ensure behavioral health needs are met during transition from response to recovery.

  • States in the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) can request state-to-state behavioral health assets.