A consortium of researchers dedicated to improving the understanding of the human causes and consequences of terrorism

Piloting a New Model of Crisis Counseling: Specialized Crisis Counseling Services in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina

Abstract:

During January–April 2007, Project Recovery, a federally funded crisis counseling program implemented by Mississippi’s Department of Mental Health, piloted a new model of Specialized Crisis Counseling Services (SCCS) on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. In this team-based approach, a masters-level counselor trained in a variety of intervention techniques and a resource coordinator worked together with persons whose needs were relatively intense. Compared to regular program (RCCS) participants over the same interval (n = 29,522), SCCS participants (n = 281) were more likely to be female, middle-aged, and at greater risk for severe distress. In a participant survey conducted in both programs over the same week, SCCS participants reported significantly greater benefit than did RCCS participants. A subset of 129 SCCS participants provided pre- and post-participation assessments and showed large improvements in disaster-related distress.

Publication Information

Full Citation:

Jones, Kris, Mardi Allen, Fran H. Norris, and Christy Miller. 2009. "Piloting a New Model of Crisis Counseling: Specialized Crisis Counseling Services in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina." Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research 36 (May): 195-205. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19365724/

START Author(s):

Additional Info

Research Area:
Regions: