The USC College of Social Work is pleased to announce a new partnership in preparedness training with the South Carolina Area Health Education Consortium. Over the next six months, the COSW will offer several full-day trainings designed to prepare SC social workers to address the psychosocial effects of All Hazards disasters and other public health emergencies.

The basic curriculum for these trainings is P-FLASH© - Practical Frontline Assistance and Support for Healing. P-FLASH is a front-line mental health training program developed by Carol North, M.D., Barry Hong, Ph.D. (Washington University, St. Louis) and Betty Pfefferbaum, M.D., J.D. (University of Oklahoma). Commissioned and funded by the September 11th Fund, this program is relevant not only to the aftereffects of the 9/11 terrorist attacks but is also applicable to other communities that may be affected by a wide range of catastrophic events. This curriculum approaches disaster mental health intervention practically and logically. It is based on existing disaster mental health research presented in a user-friendly format. “Road maps” guide mental health professionals through differentiation of normative and pathological responses, identification and triage of cases, and skillful application of front-line disaster mental health interventions.

K-FLASH© - Kids: Practical Front Line Assistance & Support for Healing is the children’s version of this curriculum and will be utilized in the trainings provided for school-based social workers and personnel.

For more information, please contact:

Lisa Reece, MSW, LCSW
USC Center for Public Health Preparedness
1233 Washington Street, Suite 700
Columbia, SC 29201
Columbia Office Phone: 803-978-7578
Anderson Office Phone: 864-224-9540
Fax: 803-978-7586
Email: Lisa.Baker.Reece@sc.edu