SE PA Mental Health Sub-Committee

Vera Zanders

Montgomery County MHMRA
(610) 278-5653

Phillip DeMara
Vulnerable Populations and Mental Health Planning Coordinator
Philadelphia Emergency Management
(215) 686-4978

Announcement

• Visit to NJ's state planner, Gladys Padro, March 27, 2007.
• Visit to DE's state planner, Steven Dettwyler, April 23, 2007
• Meeting with Camden Co. planner, Chuck Steinmetz, April 30, 2007
• 2007 regional MH summit held May 31, 2007.
• Steve Crimando Train-the-Trainer held July 23 & 24, 2007
• Steve Crimando PFA training for MH Responders held April 10, 2008
• 2008 Regional MH Summit held May 29, 2008

MH Subcommittee Proposal to SEPA RCTTF

Summary
PDF
MS Word

Full Proposal
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MS Word

Goals:

All of these goals are manageable and will contribute to greater levels of relationship-building, community activity, regional interaction and collaboration, and finally, a more prepared mental health disaster response. With the initiation of a mental health Listserv and recent regional Summit, the proposed subcommittee is already positioned for ongoing action and involvement.

Short Term:

• Regional Mental Health Listserv
• Periodic regional summits
• Disaster mental health specific training events for the SEPA region
• Collaboration among counties in the development of coherent, robust, and ultimately useful nominal mental health disaster plans.
• Collaboration and communication with the Emergency Response and Emergency Management communities.

Long Term:

• Tabletop scenario exercises for the five counties that involve mental health.
• Role play disaster drills for scenarios that include bioterrorism decontamination units and victim debriefing.
• Research and collaboration for best-practices mental health preparedness & response programs that can be adapted for a variety of emergency/disaster scenarios.
• Initiation of a disaster mental health volunteer database spanning the five county region.
• Certification and training for non-traditional mental health responders, such as faith-based community leaders
  
  

Letter to the State: Request for additional funding streams.

The MH subcommittee, in support of the SEPA Task Force, sent a letter requesting additional funding for a full time disaster coordinator position for each of the five counties.

Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)

The five county MHDCs have been examing template MOUs to attempt to make linkages between the counties in the region. Should a major incidnet require assistance from neighboring counties, it will be critical that prior agreements exist.

Draft MOU Template
PDF
MS Word

Summits

MHDC SUMMIT - MAY 29, 2008

MHDC SUMMIT - MAY 31, 2007

MHDC SUMMIT - JUNE 23, 2006

MHDC SUMMIT - JUNE 23, 2005