Disaster Behavioral Health Initiative

Jim Siemianowski, 860-418-6810, james.siemianowski@ct.gov

The Connecticut Departments of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and Children and Families (DCF), working with the University of Connecticut Health Center at the Center for Trauma Response, Recovery, and Preparedness (CTRP), have developed an organized network of behavioral health providers to respond to the mental health needs of Connecticut residents following major disasters (e.g., bioterrorism, man-made or natural disasters). The Connecticut Disaster Behavioral Health Response Network (DBHRN) consists of five regional behavioral health disaster response teams that can be deployed immediately anywhere in the state. The geographical areas covered by the teams correspond to the OPM Uniform Health Regions. These teams would respond to disasters or critical incidents when local behavioral health resources have been depleted or are overwhelmed. The goal of the regional behavioral health response teams is to provide an organized response to victims, family members, survivors, or communities affected by disasters.

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