A new federally-funded Crisis Counseling, Assistance, and Training Program (CCATP) grant has been awarded and was announced by the Capital Area Human Services (CAHS) agency, which serves a seven parish area in Greater Baton Rouge. CAHS will oversee the Louisiana Spirit teams in the parishes of Ascension, East and West Baton Rouge, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, East and West Feliciana. CAHS will also conduct the CCATP in St. James Parish.
The Capital Area Human Services agency has assumed management and oversight of the program, known as Louisiana Spirit, in this region through designation from the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health, according to CAHS Executive Director Jan Kasofsky, Ph.D.
John Nosacka, CAHS Emergency Services Director, will serve as the CAHS' Program Manager. Other parishes receiving disaster declarations will be by Louisiana Spirit but managed by agencies in those areas.
Crisis counseling programs, like Louisiana Spirit, are funded by FEMA following presidential disaster declarations. Affected individuals are offered services that promote resilience, empowerment, and recovery on a short-term basis.
Historically, Louisiana Spirit has provided assistance in the past to individuals and families affected by Hurricane Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike and Isaac.
Louisiana Spirit at Capital Area Human Services will provide:
• assessment and referral services to adults and children for gateways to additional disaster relief services or mental health or substance abuse treatment;
• counseling to assist disaster survivors in understanding their current situation and reactions;
• counseling to mitigate stress and build resilience;
• assistance in the review of their disaster recovery options, and;
• general support/information on resources and services available.
The program encourages linkages with other individuals and agencies that may assist in their recovery while they strive to return to their pre-disaster level of functioning, said Dr. Kasofsky.
She noted that Louisiana Spirit Capital Area Human Services staff, in collaboration with the LDH/OBH, will offer disaster mental health interventions, which includes outreach crisis counseling and education to disaster survivors, their families, staff of local governments, rescuers, disaster first responders, business owners, religious communities, and other special populations. Free stress management services are available for employees of public, private and non-profit entities statewide.
Louisiana Spirit employs a diverse workforce of social service providers, first responders, clinicians and even survivors, particularly those indigenous and knowledgeable about the local impacted communities.
CAHS will have a team comprised of program managers and support staff at its administrative offices at 4615 Government Street in Baton Rouge. In the field, crisis counselors and a Resource Linkage Coordinators will be paired to offer support and resources at the Disaster Recovery Centers and by going door-to-door in some areas. To request assistance, please contact 225-335-2795.
More information on CCP can be found at the FEMA website: https://www.fema.gov/recovery-directorate/crisis-counseling-assistance-t....
For more information about Louisiana Spirit, please visit the LDH website: http://dhh.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/page/201.