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Gulf Coast Resilience Coalition: An Evolved Collaborative Built on Shared Disaster Experiences, Response, and Future Preparedness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 November 2015

Tonya Cross Hansel ,
Howard J. Osofsky ,
Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling ,
Anthony Speier ,
Tim Rehner ,
Joy D. Osofsky  and
Glenn Rohrer
Tonya Cross Hansel*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Howard J. Osofsky
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Jennifer Langhinrichsen-Rohling
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
Anthony Speier
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Tim Rehner
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Joy D. Osofsky
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana
Glenn Rohrer
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Dr Tonya Hansel, 1542 Tulane Avenue, Department of Psychiatry 2nd Floor, New Orleans, LA, 70112 (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

Objective

For close to a decade, the Gulf Coast of the United States has been in almost constant disaster recovery mode, and a number of lessons have been learned concerning disaster recovery and behavioral health. The purpose of this report was to describe the natural development of a Gulf Coast Resilience Coalition (GCRC).

Methods

The GCRC methods began with state-specific recovery goals following Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and transitioned to a shared multistate and multidiscipline coalition. The coalition’s effectiveness is demonstrated through continuation, procurement of funding to provide response services, and increased membership to ensure sustainability.

Results

The coalition has enhanced response, recovery, and resilience by providing strategic plans for dissemination of knowledge; post-disaster surveillance and services; effective relationships and communication with local, state, and regional partners; disaster response informed by past experience; a network of professionals and community residents; and the ability to improve access to and efficiency of future behavioral health coordination through an organized response.

Conclusions

The GCRC can not only improve readiness and response, but work toward a shared vision of improved overall mental and behavioral health and thus resilience, with beneficial implications for the Gulf South and other communities as well. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:657–665)

Keywords

disasterscommunity mental health servicesdisaster planning
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 9 , Issue 6 , December 2015 , pp. 657 - 665
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2015 

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