This course will enable you to:
* Identify the range of emotions experienced by clients, as well as by
Red Cross paid and volunteer staff, during disasters and Red Cross
relief operations.
* Understand some of the factors that might influence the emotional
impact on the community.
* Describe the role of Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services and
how it supports Red Cross disaster relief operations, on major relief
operations as well as in local chapters.
* Describe the various settings in which Disaster Mental Health Services
operates.
* Demonstrate the mental health techniques used by Disaster Mental Health
Services.
* Develop a plan of action for your further involvement with the Red Cross.
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Segment 1: Types of Disasters
Objective: After completing this segment, you should be able to identify
the range of emotions created by disasters for individuals, communities,
and Red Cross workers. You will also be able to describe the factors that
shape the emotional environment of disasters. You will become familiar
with the emotional phases of disaster recovery and how Red Cross workers
are called into action in such highly stressful circumstances.
Segment 2: Disaster Mental Health Services - What It Takes
Objective: After completing this segment, you will be able to identify the
purpose of Disaster Mental Health Services, to describe what skills are
necessary to function effectively within Disaster Mental Health Services,
and to identify the activities and interventions used as a Disaster Mental
Health worker.
Segment 3: The Role of DMHS in Direct Services
Objective: After completing this segment, you should be familiar with the
Red Cross relief operation organizational structure, and be able to
describe some of the stressors, challenges, and emotional issues faced
by Mass Care, Family Service, Disaster Health Services, and Disaster
Welfare Inquiry workers. You will also be able to describe some of the
stressors and emotional issues faced by Red Cross clients in these
settings.
You will identify activities that are typical of DMHS workers in each Direct
Services setting and demonstrate the skills required of DMHS workers. You
will have a clearer understanding of which forms and procedures to follow in
these settings.
Segment 4: DMHS in Internal Support Services
Objective: After completing this segment, you will be able to identify
some of the stressors, challenges, and emotional issues faced by Internal
Support Services workers; identify activities that are typical of DMHS
workers in various Internal Support Services settings; and demonstrate
the skills required of DMHS workers.
Segment 5: DMHS in External Support Services
Objective: After completing this segment, you will be able to identify
some of the stressors, challenges, and emotional issues faced by External
Support Services workers in various External Support Services settings;
and demonstrate the skills required of DMHS workers.
Segment 6: Advocacy and the Relief Operation Administrative Team
Objective: After completing this segment, you will be able to summarize
some of the stressors, challenges, and emotional issues faced by Red Cross
workers on a relief operation. We will focus on your role as an advocate and
identify ways to assist the relief operation administration in addressing the
mental health concerns throughout the operation. You will be able to identify
and demonstrate the skills used by DMHS workers in advocating on behalf of the
workers with the relief operation administration.
Segment 7: Defusing and Debriefing
Objective: After completing this segment, you will be able to determine
when to perform a defusing and a debriefing. You will be able to describe
the process for conducting a defusing and the stages of a debriefing, and
identify the similarities and differences. You will role-play situations
commonly encountered by DMHS workers, and demonstrate the skills required to
conduct both a defusing and a debriefing.
Segment 8: DMHS in Your Local Chapter
Objective: After completing this segment, you will be able to identify
various roles for DMHS workers in a local chapter. You will learn what to
expect if you are assigned to a major relief operation. You will identify those
Red Cross arenas, either local or national, in which you would like to play a
role, and develop a plan of action for getting involved. This may include
pursuing other Red Cross training opportunities.
