|
By Phyllis Hanlon
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), under the umbrella of the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), recently awarded a grant of $494,568 to Rhode Island
to assist in that state's continuing efforts to serve the emotional
needs of victims and families of The Station fire. The blaze occurred
on February 20, 2003 in West Warwick and claimed 100 lives. Immediately
after the fire, a $50,000 federal grant to cover the cost of counseling
was awarded.
Carol Kent, M.Ed., the coordinator of Behavioral Health Disaster
Preparedness within Rhode Island's Department of Mental Health,
Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH) says that this grant will enable
continued and expanded outreach and intervention efforts as well
as training and education in the areas of mental health and substance
abuse for victims, family members and survivors. A number of agencies
will work together, including the Rhode Island Council of Community
Mental Health Organizations, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Association
(DATA) and The Station Nightclub Fire Relief Fund. "It's important
that everyone who's involved use the resources effectively and efficiently,"
Kent says. By collaborating, she hopes to avoid duplication of services.
Some of the funds will be used to mitigate the after-effects of
disaster on clinicians and first responders. "From the Oklahoma
City material, we know that 18 to 24 months out, they have problems,"
says Kent. According to the Oklahoma City report, increased rates
of divorce, substance abuse and suicide are common in first responders.
"We want to ameliorate that here," she says.
Plans call for intervention in schools. According to Kent, the
Red Cross program called Masters of Disaster will be utilized to
minimize mental health issues in youngsters. Kent says, "The prevention
approach will get kids to feel comfortable about the fire or just
listening to the news. They'll feel more in control."
Michael Lichtenstein, vice president for administration at the
Kent Center, says that his facility facilitates weekly, on-site
peer support groups for survivors and family members. These added
federal funds will enable the continuation of those programs as
well as the creation of an outreach and intervention team that will
also provide advocacy and case management.
"Outreach is a significant component," Lichtenstein says. "We want
to reach those who haven't gotten support, continue the ongoing
support groups and expand to other parts of the state so more can
access services." He points out that the Kent Center's aid is short-term
crisis intervention, not long-term grief counseling. "We are helping
people assess their emotional health and then connect to other resources,"
he says.
In some ways, Lichtenstein sees destigmatization as a result of
the fire. "People are learning that mental health services facilitated
by professional staff can be a real asset. People are finding that
therapy works."
The grant is scheduled to run through the anniversary date of the
fire. However, according to Lichtenstein, if it is not implemented
until September, Rhode Island will request an extension.
|
