O Lee McCabe1, Natalie L Semon2, Carol B Thompson3, Jeffrey M Lating4, George S Everly5, Charlene J Perry6, Suzanne Straub Moore7, Adrian M Mosley8, Jonathan M Links2. 1. 1Department of Mental Health and the Center for Public Health Preparedness,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,Johns Hopkins School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland. 2. 2Department of Environmental Health Sciences,Center for Public Health Preparedness,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,Baltimore,Maryland. 3. 3Johns Hopkins Biostatistics Center,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,Baltimore,Maryland. 4. 4Loyola University Maryland,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,Baltimore,Maryland. 5. 5Center for Public Health Preparedness,Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,Johns Hopkins School of Medicine,Baltimore,Maryland. 6. 6Kent County Health Department,Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene,Chestertown,Maryland. 7. 7Shrewsbury Parish,Episcopal Diocese of Easton,Maryland. 8. 8Office of Community Health,Johns Hopkins Health System,Baltimore,Maryland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Working within a series of partnerships among an academic health center, local health departments (LHDs), and faith-based organizations (FBOs), we validated companion interventions to address community mental health planning and response challenges in public health emergency preparedness. METHODS: We implemented the project within the framework of an enhanced logic model and employed a multi-cohort, pre-test/post-test design to assess the outcomes of 1-day workshops in psychological first aid (PFA) and guided preparedness planning (GPP). The workshops were delivered to urban and rural communities in eastern and midwestern regions of the United States. Intervention effectiveness was based on changes in relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) and on several behavioral indexes. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in self-reported and objectively measured KSAs across all cohorts. Additionally, GPP teams proved capable of producing quality drafts of basic community disaster plans in 1 day, and PFA trainees confirmed upon follow-up that their training proved useful in real-world trauma contexts. We documented examples of policy and practice changes at the levels of local and state health departments. CONCLUSIONS: Given appropriate guidance, LHDs and FBOs can implement an effective and potentially scalable model for promoting disaster mental health preparedness and community resilience, with implications for positive translational impact.
OBJECTIVE: Working within a series of partnerships among an academic health center, local health departments (LHDs), and faith-based organizations (FBOs), we validated companion interventions to address community mental health planning and response challenges in public health emergency preparedness. METHODS: We implemented the project within the framework of an enhanced logic model and employed a multi-cohort, pre-test/post-test design to assess the outcomes of 1-day workshops in psychological first aid (PFA) and guided preparedness planning (GPP). The workshops were delivered to urban and rural communities in eastern and midwestern regions of the United States. Intervention effectiveness was based on changes in relevant knowledge, skills, and attitudes (KSAs) and on several behavioral indexes. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in self-reported and objectively measured KSAs across all cohorts. Additionally, GPP teams proved capable of producing quality drafts of basic community disaster plans in 1 day, and PFA trainees confirmed upon follow-up that their training proved useful in real-world trauma contexts. We documented examples of policy and practice changes at the levels of local and state health departments. CONCLUSIONS: Given appropriate guidance, LHDs and FBOs can implement an effective and potentially scalable model for promoting disaster mental health preparedness and community resilience, with implications for positive translational impact.
Authors: O Lee McCabe; Natalie L Semon; Jeffrey M Lating; George S Everly; Charlene J Perry; Suzanne Straub Moore; Adrian M Mosley; Carol B Thompson; Jonathan M Links Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2014 Impact factor: 2.792