June 6, 2014 - On May 12, 2014 George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services and the Department of Social Work sponsored a conference on Disaster Behavioral Health. The conference featured the participation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration( SAMHSA) Disaster Technical Assistance Center and hosted over 230 attendees. National experts discussed the following topics:
- Psychological first aid
- Principles of disaster behavioral health intervention
- Re-traumatization
- Work with vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.
This conference represented the first stage of an initiative to increase the knowledge and skills of professionals who are a vital part of the disaster response in local communities. For more information contact conference planner Dr. Molly Davis, mdavi7@gmu.edu.