July 2008

MBPA DISASTER RESPONSE COMMITTEE REPORT

Submitted by Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
(831) 420-1109
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Our team's mental health services were in greater need this past month than they have ever been in the past 10 years. As you all know, we had three sets of wildfires -- The Summit Fires, The Martin Fire and The Trabing Fire -- all in Santa Cruz County within the last four weeks. The activities included staffing evacuation centers and shelters (albeit briefly yet on several occasions), escorting people to burned out and damaged areas, attending Cal Fire meetings, seeing clients, taking an avalanche of calls, giving out supplies, being at informational gatherings and re-unification centers. We then did follow-up post-disaster check-ins with the over 125 Red Cross volunteers and staff, as we are to be available to them as well as to the clients we serve. We also worked closely, as we usually do, with County Mental Health. We also provided post check-ins with many of our community partners.

So many of you stepped forward to offer your time, and it was and is greatly appreciated. Specifically, a few that truly were heroic with their time and talent, including some of our MBPA members, were Sheri Anselmi, Meg Sandow, Diane Cohan, Frances Rinaldo, Stan Einhorn, Dorene Blake, Marilyn Palla-Droke, Sharon Parker, Tom Burke, Michelle De Antoni, Beth Bennett, Donna Raposa, Jacob Sidman, Gary Shoemaker and many, many others.

If anyone is interested our future efforts, and would like to take part in disaster mental health trainings and programs, please contact me.

April 2008

MBPA DISASTER RESPONSE COMMITTEE REPORT

Submitted by Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.
(831) 420-1109
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Disaster response team

Our last joint meeting with CAMFT, ARC and County Mental Health team members went very well. We want to acknowledge MBPA member Dr. Ann Bolger for her informative presentation. I am assisting in planning a drill – these are held once every two years or more for all ARC functions – on a large-scale disaster and mental health sheltering mentoring. Many MBPA team members will be attending this training. The National ARC is in the midst of a re-organization and specific information on how this affects our team will be outlined at future events.

Diane Bridgeman, Ph.D.

Co-chair, Disaster Response Committee

Rick Allen, Ph.D.

Co-chair, Disaster Response Committee

831-429-1340

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