International Journal of Emergency Mental Health
Volume 9, Issue 3, 2007, Pages 181-192

Psychological first aid training for the faith community: A model curriculum (Article)

McCabe O.L.* , Lating J.M. , Mosley A.M. , Links J.M. , Everly Jr. G.S. , Teague P.J. , Kaminsky M.J.
  • a Department of Mental Health and Center for Public Health Preparedness, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
  • b Loyola College in Maryland
  • c Johns Hopkins Health System
  • d Department of Environmental Health Sciences and Center for Public Health Preparedness, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • e Center for Public Health Preparedness, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • f Johns Hopkins Health System
  • g Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Abstract

Traditionally, faith communities have served important roles in helping survivors cope in the aftermath of public health disasters. However, the provision of optimally effective crisis intervention services for persons experiencing acute or prolonged emotional trauma following such incidents requires specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. Supported by a federally-funded grant, several academic health centers and faith-based organizations collaborated to develop a training program in Psychological First Aid (PFA) and disaster ministry for members of the clergy serving urban minorities and Latino immigrants in Baltimore, Maryland. This article describes the one-day training curriculum composed of four content modules: Stress Reactions of Mind-Body-Spirit, Psychological First Aid and Crisis Intervention, Pastoral Care and Disaster Ministry, and Practical Resources and Self Care for the Spiritual Caregiver. Detailed descriptions of each module are provided, including its purpose; rationale and background literature; learning objectives; topics and sub-topics; and educational methods, materials and resources. The strengths, weaknesses, and future applications of the training template are discussed from the vantage points of participants' subjective reactions to the training. © 2008 Chevron Publishing.

Author Keywords

Psychological first aid Disaster mental health Disaster training curriculum Public health preparedness Disaster ministry Faith community Spiritual caregiver

Index Keywords

education patient care curriculum cooperation Pastoral Care psychological aspect human Interprofessional Relations Adaptation, Psychological religion United States Humans counseling crisis intervention adaptive behavior Religion and Psychology Article posttraumatic stress disorder disaster planning Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Maryland Baltimore psychiatry clergy Cooperative Behavior Self Care Patient Care Team public relations
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-40949118024&partnerID=40&md5=e8c2e5cd221b933f362980c418adeb1d
ISSN: 15224821
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English