Integrating Emergency Management and Disaster Behavioral Health

By: , Posted on: January 31, 2017

integrating emergency management and disaster behavioral health

Preparing for and responding to disasters and large-scale emergencies make for strange bedfellows. These tragic events require that individuals, groups, and governments work in harmony if victims and survivors are to be optimally served. As disaster response has become more standardized and formalized over the past several decades, the complexities, challenges, and promises of integrating critical partners has become clearer.

One of the most challenging and promising integrative opportunities is between emergency management (EM) professionals and behavioral health (DBH) professions involved in disaster preparation and response.

As the chapters of our new edited book, Integrating Emergency Management and Disaster Behavioral Health, will reveal, there are immeasurable advantages to be gained from the integration of these two professional domains. At the same time, this is not an easy match. These are two rapidly evolving areas of theoretical, legislative, and practical formalization grounded in conceptual structure, research, and real-life experience.

Both the structure and content of the book are designed to guide the reader through key areas of important integration, articulate the challenges and opportunities involved, and provide practical guidance for implementation and application. The structure is designed to model an integrated approach to the topics presented. The chapters provide perspectives on the topic from both professions as well as case examples or suggestions for accomplishing integration.

The editing of this book is also intended to model integration. Each of us comes from a different profession and has designed the book based on not only our own experiences. We have fully incorporated the suggestions from both emergency management and disaster behavioral health communities to identify the most relevant topical areas and contributing authors.

Fundamental to the foundation in designing and editing this book, both us have walked the walk. Combined, the two of us have more decades of hands-on involvement in disaster preparedness and response than we like to contemplate. Our experience spans significant governmental, legislative and policy development and implementation, consultation to national and international leaders, knowledge development and dissemination. Perhaps most important, is our real-time experience in disaster preparation and response in some of the most complex and difficult situations the United States has faced, such as in the aftermath of both natural and human-caused disasters.

integrating emergency management and disaster behavioral health

Integrating Emergency Management and Disaster Behavioral Health is scheduled to publish on February 1, 2017. If you would like to pre-order a copy of the book, visit the Elsevier Store here.  Apply discount code STC317 at check-out to receive 30% off the list price and free global shipping.

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