Vermont Psychological Association

The VPA, in coordination with APA, maintains a Disaster Response Network (DRN) which is available to support local and national disaster response, primarily in conjunction with the American Red Cross. More general information may be obtained by using the following link. Please be advised that some of the information may be outdated.

http://www.apa.org/practice/programs/drn/fact.aspx

In Vermont, we are trying to develop a cadre of licensed clinicians who are interested in serving in one or more of the following Disaster Mental Health activities:

-Red Cross Local Disaster Mental Health Responder
(Disaster Action Team - DAT)

-Red Cross National Disaster Mental Health Responder (DSHR)

-Provide pro-bono short term (usually no more than 3 sessions) Disaster Related
follow up counseling services to:
Clients: children, Teens, Adults, Seniors
ARC Responders
First Responders (Fire, Police, EMS, etc)

-Have special / advanced treatment skills in PTSD and co-morbid issues and
desire to be listed on a paid provider referral list (note: you cannot
volunteer and then be paid for the same case – would be a self referral)

-Become an ARC Disaster Mental Health Trainer

-DMH Planning and Development Activities

-Other service or special skill which you think would be relevant and useful:

The ARC Foundations of Disaster Mental Health training course replaces the former Disaster Mental Health Services – 1, which is now obsolete. It is required for participation in the DRN program as well as ARC Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) deployment eligibility for Local and National Disasters. Please see the ARC Fact Sheet in PDF format available on this website. This course has traditionally been offered, most years, in Vermont during June to insure readiness for the Hurricane season. The course may also be offered upon request of a reasonable number (minimum of six) participants. Registration is through your local Red Cross Chapter. The APA grants Continuing Education credit for successful completion of the course.

Please note that at the present time, VT DRN personnel do not deploy to disasters except under the auspices of the American Red Cross, Medical Reserve Corps units or a similar organized & recognized response organization (liability issues) and never self-deploy.

One area in which VPA – DRN personnel could be of great assistance here at home, without requiring deployment in a significant national disaster, is as follows:

All ARC deployed personnel who have returned home from national assignment, are routinely offered a special form of "counseling / out-processing" (formerly called debriefing) to assist with their return to regular life, and to screen for potential difficulties. This is typically done by the Chapter DMH personnel. This is a good way for DRN Psychologists to become involved with their local Chapter even when they are unable to be on the deployment list. Sometimes, individuals are identified with a need for additional services beyond that which Red Cross DMH volunteers have the time and resources to offer, given the case load and other demands (such as having themselves been deployed.)

Therefore, it would be very beneficial if we could recruit from the VPA membership a few licensed and qualified clinicians familiar with this type of service from across the State. These volunteers should be willing to offer pro-bono short term follow-up counseling to these returnees, and possibly their families.

In some local disaster events, Clients (the term “Victims” is to be avoided – as it tends to foster dependency) have experienced severe personal disasters, most frequently home fires and who are having a more severe response than ARC DMH local responders should address. These Clients may also be referred for these brief follow up services. This also would be on the order of three sessions. Those in need of ongoing assistance would be referred to more formal paid services, both private practice specialists and clinic resources, when warranted. We also need to compile a referral list of Clinicians known to be highly trained and experienced in treating PTSD and its co-morbid issues. Note: typically when a client has a history of significant and chronic mental health issues, they are already linked to appropriate MH provider services, to which they are referred.

If you are interested in volunteering for the VPA - DRN, please email me directly at jschonberg@vermontel.net with an expression of your interest, general availability, telephone numbers and geographic location (practice address). You may use the sign up form provided on this website. Just download, fill out using “typeover” to preserve spacing, save the named file and email the completed file to me. It is anticipated that I will then provide, with your permission, the appropriate Vermont ARC Chapter (there are 3 in VT) with only your name and contact information, based on their respective catchment areas. You may also contact me with further questions at the same email address.

Note: You may be a DRN volunteer without affiliating with the American Red Cross or Medical Reserve Corps. An example is the pro bono clinician follow-up services described above.
I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Jackson R Schonberg, Ed.D.
DRN Coordinator, VPA
ARC/DSHR/CLS/MHS/MN/L

APA DRN Factsheet 2011-01-26[1].pdf

DRN Foundations Course fact sheet 2007-09.pdf

ARC DMH Disaster Mental Health Brochure.pdf

DRN Application Form.doc