Article contents
Using Professional Organizations to Prepare the Behavioral Health Workforce to Respond to the Needs of Pediatric Populations Impacted by Health-Related Disasters: Guiding Principles and Challenges
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 July 2015
Abstract
Behavioral health professional organizations are in the unique role of aggregating and disseminating information to their membership before, during, and after health-related disasters to promote the integration of behavioral health services into the public health disaster response plan. This article provides a set of 5 principles to direct this undertaking that are based on the current literature and previous evaluation of the online guidance provided by 6 prominent behavioral health professional organizations. These principles use a strengths-based approach to prioritize resilience; underscore the importance of context, collaboration, and coordination; recognize the unique needs of pediatric populations; and guide ongoing training and content development in the area of biopsychosocial responses to health-related disasters. Recognizing important innovations and strides made by the behavioral health organizations noted in a previous study, this article recommends additional areas in which behavioral health professional organizations can contribute to overall pandemic disaster preparedness and response efforts. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2015;9:642–649)
- Type
- Concepts in Disaster Medicine
- Information
- Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 9 , Issue 6 , December 2015 , pp. 642 - 649
- Copyright
- Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2015
References
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