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USPS EAP Operational Value Approach to Disaster Mental Health in the Wake of Katrina & Rita

USPS EAP Operational Value Approach to Disaster Mental Health in the Wake of Katrina & Rita. W. Dennis Derr Ed.D. SPHR Project Officer USPS EAP Senior Consultant, Signature Resources. The Culture.

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USPS EAP Operational Value Approach to Disaster Mental Health in the Wake of Katrina & Rita

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  1. USPS EAP Operational Value Approach to Disaster Mental Health in the Wake of Katrina & Rita W. Dennis Derr Ed.D. SPHR Project Officer USPS EAP Senior Consultant, Signature Resources

  2. The Culture “Neither rain, snow, sleet or hail nor the dark of night will keep us from our appointed rounds” Delivery of mail is considered a sign of normalcy in disrupted communities

  3. The Culture Delivery of the mail is critical to social security and other government Aid programs.

  4. Over 7,000 USPS Employees evacuated with their families as far away as Maine to escape the destruction.

  5. Over 800 postal facilities were damaged beyond repair in AL., LA, MS, TX. Estimated repair costs may exceed $200,000,000 The Waveland, MS. Post Office was on this slab, all that remains. The previous day someone put the toy post office there to remind everyone what was there. The ocean is about 1/2 mile away. Everything to the tree line in the background was swept away. (9/15)

  6. Within 48 hours post storm mail delivery returns to most areas in a limited fashion.

  7. EAP Response • 30 EAP staff deployed at impact sites or visiting most damaged locations within 48 hours offering • Psychological First Aid • Organizational First Aid/Coaching to managers and leaders. • Clinical interventions

  8. Response cont. • USPS sets up a call in 800 # for employees to identify evacuated location, status, and work capability. Linked service to EAP service center in St. Louis. • EAP creates PERCs (Postal Employee Resource Centers) in Houston, Baton Rouge and Mobile to service USPS evacuees. • EAP takes responsibility to contact 3,000 missing employee evacuees via emergency contact numbers.

  9. Response cont. • EAP/Behavioral health experts embedded with regional operations emergency management and logistics staff. • EAP/Behavioral health experts embedded with USPS HQ executives and emergency management staff. • EAP daily reports part of the executive decision and process support.

  10. Current Status • 500 USPS evacuees take positions away from impact zone. • EAP staff acting as key consultative experts in emergency planning teams. • EAP utilization up in impacted areas (life stress, substance misuse, family issues) • Attempting to study with CSTS long term occupational/psychological impact.

  11. Lessons Learned and Applied • Psychological first aid combined with organizational coaching is key to supporting return to operational human normalcy.

  12. Lessons Learned and Applied • Although psychological symptoms exist in evacuees post event, their first priority is creating some sense of normalcy in their lives. They do not want to be diagnosed.

  13. Lessons Learned and Applied • Psychological and health resources continue to be depleted in impacted areas. Previous levels of care can not be assumed

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