COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Speaker Series
The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating impacts on first responders’ mental and physical health. Throughout the disaster response phase, regional recovery leaders, and dedicated interagency partners worked to create a coordination forum to discuss both challenges, solutions, and resources. This three-part COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Speaker Series explores opportunities to raise awareness about resources that can help reduce burnout, promote mental health, and encourage trauma-informed care strategies among the health and emergency management workforce in response to COVID-19.
This three-part virtual series was developed by the HHS/ASPR Division of Community Mitigation and Recovery, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the DHS Federal Emergency Management Agency. Several state entities supported the development of this event to include the Minnesota Department of Health, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and many other state and local subject matter experts.
Part 1: It’s OK to Not be OK Right Now
Air Date: February 22, 2022
Speaker: Scott Webb, MSE, Trauma-Informed Care Coordinator, Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services
In the first installment of our speaker series, Scott Webb, discusses recent findings in trauma-informed care which have been featured in articles published by Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and Isthmus. Mr. Webb, trauma survivor who has worked in the behavioral health field for 35 years, provides an overview of trauma and secondary traumatic stress. He also discusses communication, self-care, boundaries, and other important topics to help promote behavioral health for healthcare providers.
Part 2: Stress First Aid for the Health Care Workforce
Air Date: March 11, 2022
Speaker: Dr. Richard Westphal, a dual board-certified advance practice mental health nurse and nurse practitioner and Co-Director of the Wisdom and Wellbeing Program within UVA Health
Stress First Aid is a model used to improve recovery from stress reactions in yourself and others. Dr. Richard Westphal, a dual board-certified advance practice mental health nurse and nurse practitioner and Co-Director of the Wisdom and Wellbeing Program within UVA Health, will provide an overview of Stress First Aid and explain how the concept can help your organization support your staff more effectively during disasters and emergencies.
Upcoming Events
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April 2022: Pandemic Recovery: Balancing Reality with Reimagining our Future: In this session, Dr. Mary Jo Kreitzer, founder and director of the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota, will focus on creating a culture of wellbeing emphasizing both personal and organizational strategies aimed at reducing burnout and enhancing purpose and meaning in our work. Acknowledging and addressing the current stress and trauma is critical as is the recognition that addressing the wellbeing of the health and human services workforce is a long-term endeavor that will require deep, systemic change.
