Hurricane Response (Cont.)

The briefing was developed in response to the needs of many congressional members who are currently involved in the shaping of policies about the short- and long-term public health needs of those affected by disasters and other trauma.  Jones was joined by Donald E. Williamson from the Alabama Department of Public Health and Gina Lagarde, Medical Director of the Louisiana Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 

Jones and the other speakers highlighted the critical necessity of a strong national and local public health infrastructure that is ready to respond when an overwhelming disaster occurs.  Jones described how effectively the many centers of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network responded to the hurricanes. He reiterated the Network's ongoing commitment to help the children affected by these disasters.  The bipartisan briefing, sponsored by six House and Senate members, and by dozens of mental health organizations, was well attended by over 150 congressional staff and advocates.

NCTSN Site Wins OJP Grant

The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced $6.2 million in awards to 15 communities. Among the recipients was Southwest Michigan Children's Trauma Assessment Center, an NCTSN site in Kalamazoo, MI. The awards support children and families exposed to violence, as victims of or witnesses to violent crime, sexual and physical assault, child abuse and domestic violence.

“A child who witnesses or is exposed to violence at a young age can experience severe trauma, and Safe Start provides these children with a chance to succeed in life," said J. Robert Flores, Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

For the full text of the press release, including the complete list of grantees, visit the Department of Justice website.