The UK Behavioral Health Disaster Response Institute is a series of projects designed to enhance and increase the capacity of health and mental health professionals to respond to events of disaster, terrorism, or a public health emergency, and to establish best practice guidelines for emergency responders in a wide range of disaster scenarios. To accomplish this task, the project utilizes innovative and evidence-based health care system training strategies (i.e. telemedicine and existing training networks) and the latest research methodologies to assist health and behavioral health providers in the detection and treatment of psychological distress following events of disaster. Funding for the BHDRP comes from a variety of federal sources including the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), the Department of Homeland Security through the National Institute for Hometown Security, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
The UK Behavioral Health Disaster Response Project offers the following services:
- On-site training to mental health and other healthcare providers on multiple topics related to the psychological consequences of exposure to events of disaster or mass casualties.
- Development of best practice guidelines for disaster responders.
- Training offered via distance learning technologies, i.e. telemedicine.
- Training offered via online formats, i.e. trainings available via this website.
- Consultation to providers working with individuals, families and/or communities affected by exposure to traumatic events.
- Consultation and training to providers and organizations experiencing states of burnout and/or compassion fatigue.
- Research dissemination regarding trauma practices in the state of Kentucky and nationally.
- Consultation regarding research practices in the field of traumatology.
Special Report:
Evidence-Informed Guidelines for Child-Focused Pandemic Planning and Response. Click to download.
Covid-19 Disaster Response Project
Well@Work is a project funded through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to the Kentucky Department of Behavioral Health and the UK Center on Trauma and Children. The project seeks to address stress and burnout within the healthcare and behavioral health care workforce with special focus on those who work with the more than 12 million Americans who have tested positive for COVID-19. The project has three tiers: Tier 1 offers universal resources, the Well@Work ECHO project in Tier 2, and Tier 3 offers screeners and resources for those most impacted by workplace stress, burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and moral distress. Click here for more information.
Contact Information:
Principal Investigator, Ginny Sprang, Ph.D.
Phone: (859) 218-6901
Email : sprang@uky.edu