Resources

Communication & Community Outreach

• A Crisis Communication Primer for Hospital CEOs
  By Dan Millar and Frederick Bagg (September 2001)
• Talking About Disaster
  American Red Cross
  This guide has been developed to assist anyone providing disaster safety information to the public. Users of this guide may include emergency managers, meteorologists, teachers, disaster and fire educators, public affairs/public relations personnel, mitigation specialists, media personnel, and/or any other person in the severe-weather, earthquake, disaster, or communications communities. The safety information is intended for dissemination to the general public.

TERRORISM

• Red Cross Plan Has 5-Step Preparedness (February 21, 2003)
  The American Red Cross announces a 5-step preparedness plan for any natural disaster or terrorist attack, including: Make a Plan, Build a Kit, Get Trained, Volunteer, and Give Blood
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security Unveils Ready Campaign (February 20, 2003)
  DHS unveiled a new advertising campaign to urge Americans to prepare for possible terrorist attacks and educate about the differences between chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. The Ready.gov Web site provides simple things to do now to prepare for the unexpected. This site provides instruction on assembling a supply kit and developing a family communications plan, which are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency. The site also addresses the important differences among potential terrorist threats that should impact the decisions made and actions taken.
• American Red Cross Releases Homeland Security Preparedness Guidelines for Families, Schools, Businesses (July 1, 2002)
• Children and Anthrax: A Fact Sheet for Parents (November 7, 2001)
  By the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
• Anthrax: Protecting and Preparing Your Family (November 2001) APIC Online Education Course - Free of charge
  This online course is designed to help the general public learn about anthrax and includes FAQs, glossary of terms, and references and resources for more information, information on how to design a family emergency plan, and how to talk to children about anthrax.
• FBI Advisory: If you receive a suspicious package, what should you do? Preparing for Terrorism: A Family Guide
  State of Virginia
  The best way to prepare is to have a disaster plan in place. Families should create a plan that includes emergency contacts, identification information, meeting locations, disaster supply kit and more. Terrorism does not mean you have to change your life, just be prepared.
• What do I do if I receive a bioterrorism threat?
  State of Virginia

TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT TRAGEDY

• National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions
  This site includes many resources for communicating with children about disaster.
• Children and Anthrax: A Fact Sheet for Parents
  By the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention
• The Parent Center American Academy of Pediatrics American Psychological Association
• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  Mental Health Resources and Social Services for Patients and Families

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES

• Disaster Mental Health Services: A Guidebook for Clinicians and Administrators (1998)
  Department of Veterans Affairs
  This guidebook is an introduction to the field of disaster mental health (DMH) for clinicians and administrators.
• Expert Consensus Treatment Guidelines for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families (1999)
  By Edna B. Foa, Ph.D., Jonathan R. T. Davidson, M.D., Allen Frances, M.D., and Ruth Ross, M.A. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1999; 60 (supplement 16).  This guide includes recommendations contained in the Expert Consensus Treatment Guidelines for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
• America in Grief: Nurses Repond to Tragedy
  Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International's Web site includes a comprehensive list of informative links on terrorism, bio/chemical terrorism, mental health/grief, and teen and child counseling.
• Expert Consensus Treatment Guidelines for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide for Patients and Families (1999)
  By Edna B. Foa, Ph.D., Jonathan R. T. Davidson, M.D., Allen Frances, M.D., and Ruth Ross, M.A. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 1999; 60 (supplement 16).
  Guide includes recommendations contained in the Expert Consensus Treatment Guidelines for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Anxiety Disorders Association of America.
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
  Special website with consumer- oriented material about loss and bereavement, and post-traumatic stress.
• AirCraft Casualty Emotional Support Services
  Formed to help fill the void that occurs when the emergency and disaster relief organizations disband, the initial shock subsides and the natural grieving process intensifies.
• Center for Loss & Renewal
  Leading New York City psychotherapy and consultation group dedicated to the practice of life transition therapy.
• 1-800-LIFENET
  New York based, confidential crisis intervention, and referral, information service.
• National Center for Grieving Children & Families
  Provides essential resources, such as workshops and training, counselors and centers to local areas.
• Grief Recovery Institute
  has been helping people deal with the emotions caused by death and other losses for 25 years.
• AARP Grief and Loss Programs
  Offer a wide range of resources and information on grief and loss issues for bereaved adults of all ages.
• National Institute of Mental Health
  Offers information about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for grieving family and friends.
• Trauma Pages
  Focuses primarily on emotional trauma and traumatic stress, including post-traumatic stress disorder. The purpose of this award-winning site is to provide information for clinicians and researchers in the traumatic-stress field.
• A Place to Honor the Grief
  A Web site that men or women can honor the person in their life who died by writing about a part of their own grief and healing.
• KINDERSTART
  Provides parents with the essential tools for explaining death to children, as well as, how to manage their grief.
• Compassionate Books
  Web site provides hundreds of excellent books, audios and videos on death and dying.