Track 4: Enhancing Public Health, Healthcare, and Emergency Management Systems

Workshop

WS6 - Disaster Behavioral Health for First Responders - Combined Workshop

Speaker(s)

• CG

  Courtney Grey, BS

  Director, Disaster Behavioral Health
  Boston Public Health Commission
• 

  Stacey Kokaram, MPH

  Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness
  Boston Public Health Commission
• 

  Susan Schmitz, MAIDP

  Senior Project Director
  Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center

Part A: Caring for the Helpers: Building Workforce Resilience for Public Health Staff

Many factors make it difficult for Boston Public Health Commission employees to preserve their own health and well-being. With an approach of viewing staff as “clients”, BPHC’s Workforce Resilience taskforce works to address this challenge. Come learn how BPHC supports the resilience of Boston's public health workers.

Part B: Disaster Behavioral Health: Resilience Along the Disaster Continuum

Public health, healthcare, and emergency management professionals often experience high job stress which can be compounded during a disaster. This session covers the impacts of disasters on behavioral health, equipping participants with psychological preparedness and practical stress management techniques to increase self and team resilience.