HARRISBURG, Pa., May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of Pennsylvania state
health officials is attending a national summit in New Orleans to help
other states improve their response during times of disaster.
The Spirit of Recovery Summit focuses on behavioral health preparedness
and response. Pennsylvania's team is made up of officials from the
Department of Public Welfare. The commonwealth, at Governor Edward G.
Rendell's direction, was one of the first states to respond in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when it sent search and rescue and medical
assistance teams to the Gulf Coast area.
Dr. Mary E. Diamond and Ms. Jane M. Bishop, RN, of DPW's Office of
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services are part of the Pennsylvania
team in Louisiana this week and they are sharing how the commonwealth sent
five teams of trained state hospital nurses to Mississippi following the
deadly storm.
"The immediate response of helping victims usually comes in the form of
material needs. However, we must also remember the emotional ramifications
that survivors must cope with after disasters occur," said Secretary of
Public Welfare Estelle B. Richman. "Conferences such as the Spirit of
Recovery Summit allow states to share best practices and improve how we
serve individuals who are in need of mental health or substance abuse
services following natural disasters."
Running through May 24, the Spirit of Recovery Summit emphasizes the
importance of disaster behavioral health preparedness by training mental
health emergency responders to address the acute emotional needs of natural
disaster survivors. The summit is sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services Administration's Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, or SAMHSA.
Pennsylvania has played a significant role in providing relief to
people who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Over 5,000 citizens from
the Gulf Coast region are now living in Pennsylvania.
More information about the Spirit of Recovery Summit is available on
the Internet at http://www.spiritofrecoverysummit.com.
CONTACT: Rita Frealing-Shultz, Pennsylvania Department of Public
Welfare, +1-717-787-4592.
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare
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Related links:
http://www.state.pa.us
http://www.spiritofrecoverysummit.com
CONTACT:
Rita Frealing-Shultz, Pennsylvania Department
of Public Welfare, +1-717-787-4592
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