Immediate need for mental health professionals in Clay County.

CALL TO ACTION

Professional organizations are working together.

The Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association (IMHCA), Iowa Psychological Association (IPA), and the National Association of Social Work Iowa Chapter (NASW, Iowa Chapter) are calling our members and all mental health professionals across the state to action. We are in need of volunteers in Clay County due to the recent flooding to assist the Iowa Department of Human Services Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team (DBHRT).

There are currently 200+ people in shelters and we need volunteers to just listen to people, find out how they are doing, and what they need for resources.

Providers in the area are taxed, have closed businesses, or are addressing their own needs from damage to their personal homes. We need:

• Providers who can go in person to clay county in the immediate future (more details on where after we gather volunteers).
• Providers who are willing to volunteer their time to be a part of the response and not to provide actual therapy services or bill for their time.
• Spanish speaking preferred but not required.
• Providers who are comfortable donating time for crisis/disaster response.

We have limited information about what the in-person need will look like. Follow up information will come from the Iowa DBHRT after we gather interested mental health providers for them. The expectations while you are there align with the eight Psychological First Aid (PFA) Core Actions:

• Contact and Engagement: To respond to contacts initiated by survivors, or to initiate contacts in a non-intrusive, compassionate, and helpful manner.
• Safety and Comfort: To enhance immediate and ongoing safety, and provide physical and emotional comfort.
• Stabilization (if needed): To calm and orient emotionally overwhelmed or disoriented survivors.
• Information Gathering on Current Needs and Concerns: To identify immediate needs and concerns, gather additional information, and tailor Psychological First Aid interventions.
• Practical Assistance: To offer practical help to survivors in addressing immediate needs and concerns.
• Connection with Social Supports: To help establish brief or ongoing contacts with primary support persons and other sources of support, including family members, friends, and community helping resources.
• Information on Coping: To provide information about stress reactions and coping to reduce distress and promote adaptive functioning.
• Linkage with Collaborative Services: To link survivors with available services needed at the time or in the future.

CLICK HERE TO RESPOND TO THE CALL