

May 22-24, 2006 New Orleans, LA	All-Hazards Behavioral Health Preparedness and Response: Building on the Lessons of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma
Home Agenda Registration Logistics New Orleans FAQ Links Speaker Support Contact	Home Overview and Purpose Over the past year, the United States of America has experienced an unprecedented number of disasters, including the hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast States, school shootings, and suicide clusters. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, continues to emphasize the importance of all-hazards disaster behavioral health preparedness. SAMHSA is convening this national summit as a followup to previously held trainings to involve States, Territories, and the District of Columbia in the planning process. This meeting will allow States/Territories to assess the progress made on disaster behavioral health plans and help address existing barriers and needs. Participants will interact in a peer-to-peer environment to Review lessons from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma; Identify opportunities for consolidation of the ongoing response to behavioral health issues resulting from the 2005 hurricanes; and Strategize all-hazards preparedness efforts for future disasters. Topics Presentations and workshops are structured to promote intensive analysis and knowledge sharing. Topics may include Substance abuse and mental health treatment; Populations with special considerations; Evacuation and displacement; Emergency response centers; Research and clinical experience; Partnerships and coalition building; Public safety workers; Disaster-related suicide; Methadone treatment; and Regional collaboration. Attendance Each State/Territory has been invited to form a 10-person team consisting of mental health and substance abuse commissioners, disaster behavioral health coordinators, health department disaster coordinators, emergency management disaster coordinators, and other key partners (e.g., voluntary agency leads, faith-based organizations, consumer/survivor representatives, community associations). Stakeholders from national associations and Federal partners have also been invited in order to establish a setting conducive to collaboration on all levels.