Louisiana.gov DCFS

Wellness Resources

Our federal partners at Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and other Federal agencies have identified several resilience and Psychological First Aid (PFA) resources that can aid staff during stressful times.

DCFS has also partnered with Louisiana 211 to provide staff with a single access point to critical health and human services information and resources that are available.

Below is a list of resources to help keep us healthy, especially as we do the work we do, categorized into 1) Online Training; 2) Resources for First Responders, Emergency Managers, and Healthcare Workers; and 3) Mobile Applications (apps) offering support and guidance.

Online Training

This section lists online training that focuses on Psychological First Aid (PFA) and related approaches.

Building Resilient Communities: An Online Training (RAND). This self-guided online training is intended for a wide range of organizations—including first responders, local government, and public health departments—to help withstand the stress of disasters and recovery.

How Long Has Your “Check Engine” Light Been On? Enhancing Your Understanding of Yourself and Stress During COVID-19 (Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response [HHS - ASPR]). In this webinar, the presenters examine the impacts of stressors and stress as influenced by the COVID-19 environment. Participants are provided the opportunity for self-assessment and activities to encourage consideration of individual mitigation techniques that promote well-being and enhance professional performance.

Organizational Resilience and Making Meaning: During COVID-19 and Beyond (ASPR). This virtual workshop examines current impacts of stressors within organizations and provides participants with concrete leadership and organizational activities and evidence-informed strategies that promote well-being and enhance workforce performance.

PFA Online Training (National Child Traumatic Stress Network [NCTSN]) *REQUIRES USER ACCOUNT*. This 6-hour interactive course is designed to help individuals learn the core goals of PFA through activities, video demonstrations, and mentor tips. *This course is being revised and should be available soon*

Psychological First Aid training videos (University of Minnesota and Minnesota Department of Health). This training is designed to help MRC volunteers, hospital personnel, disaster responders, and first responders understand the concepts and applications of PFA:

Promoting Resilience & Recovery from the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic (ASPR) *REQUIRES USER ACCOUNT*. This training is designed for social workers in a variety of practice settings to learn key information and skills needed to promote resilience and recovery at the community level from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) Online (NCTSN) *REQUIRES USER ACCOUNT*. In this 5-hour course, providers learn how they can support survivors managing their distress and coping with post-disaster distress.

Stress First Aid for Fire and EMS Personnel (Fire Hero Learning Network) *REQUIRES USER ACCOUNT*. This training program teaches first responders how to assist each other in reducing the negative impact of stress.

Resources for First Responders, Emergency Managers, and Healthcare Workers

This section lists online resources that are tailored to support first responders, emergency managers, and healthcare workers as they respond to a crisis or enhance resiliency during and/or after response activities.

Resources specific to first responders and emergency managers:

Behavioral Health and Resilience: Resources for Responders (Office of the Assistant Secretary of Preparedness and Response HHS - ASPR Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange [TRACIE]). This section of the Responder Safety and Health Topic Collection features links to resources that can help first responders, emergency managers, and healthcare workers bolster resilience.

Disaster Response for Homeless Individuals and Families: A Trauma-Informed Approach (HHS-ASPR). Trauma-informed approaches can help disaster responders effectively serve homeless individuals and families, who may be may be at higher risk of adverse physical and psychological reactions following a public health emergency or disaster. Included on this web page are suggestions on how to work with this population before and during a disaster, as well as suggested planning and response resources.

First Responder Communication Strategies (HHS - ASPR). First responders are provided a variety of pointers on how to assist and direct people in crisis in this resource. Action steps, general messaging approaches, and related resources are provided.

First Responder Toolkit (University of Minnesota and Minnesota Department of Health). This resource was developed to help disaster responders understand and manage their stress. Included are self-assessment checklists, self-care tips, and other resources.

Stress First Aid for Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services Personnel: Student Manual (National Fallen Firefighters Foundation). This manual for firefighters and emergency medical services personnel highlights the tools of stress first aid.

Resources specific to healthcare workers:

Adolescent Trauma and Substance Abuse Online (NCTSN). This training and accompanying material inform mental health clinicians and substance abuse treatment providers about the intersections between psychological trauma and co-occurring substance abuse and dependency.

ASPR TRACIE Mini Modules to Relieve Stress for Healthcare Workers Responding to COVID-19 (HHS - ASPR TRACIE). These mini-modules are designed for healthcare workers in all settings, but primarily hospital-based providers, staff, and leaders dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. More comprehensive modules are also available.

Delivering Gender-Informed Health Services in Emergencies (HHS - ASPR). The importance of maintaining a gender perspective in emergencies is discussed on this web page, as well as suggestions on how to provide gender-responsive health services.

For Providers and Community Leaders: Helping People Manage Stress Associated with the COVID-19 Virus Outbreak (National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD]). This resource outlines steps providers and community leaders can take to spot and manage stress reactions in clients and residents.

Resources for all audiences:

211. 211 links callers to vital health and human service information in their area. This service can be used to gain information regarding basic necessities like clothing and food or information regarding employment needs.

Anniversaries and Trigger Events (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [SAMHSA]). On this web page, viewers are provided a summary of how anniversaries of disasters and other trigger events may renew emotional distress. Included is a list of tips on how to cope with renewed stress.

Caring for Those who Work with the Dead: Adapting a Psychological First Aid Intervention to your Setting (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress). Working with the dead, especially following mass-casualty events, is one of the most stressful aspects of disaster work. To deal with this stress, an innovative early intervention was developed that uses the principles of PFA.

Disaster Behavioral Health (HHS - ASPR TRACIE). Disaster behavioral health (DBH) includes the provision of mental health, substance abuse, and stress management services to disaster survivors and responders. Incorporating DBH into all phases of emergency management can ensure resident and responder preparedness, an effective, compassionate response effort, and a more resilient community moving forward. The resources on this page can help stakeholders accomplish these goals.

Disaster Distress Helpline (SAMHSA). This helpline provides free and immediate crisis and counseling support for anyone in the U.S./territories experiencing emotional distress or other mental health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Individuals can call or text for help 1-800-985-5990. Support is also available in Spanish and for ASL callers who are deaf or hard of hearing.

PFA Field Operations Guide (NCTSN and National Center for PTSD). In this resource, users will find information about the eight core actions for PFA, detailed guidance, and accompanying handouts for specific audiences.

Practical Leadership Tips for Enhancing Staff Behavioral Health During a Crisis (HHS- ASPR). A variety of tips on how to communicate with staff and maintain boundaries between work and rest are provided on this web page.

Prolonged Operations in Personal Protective Equipment During COVID-19: Recommendations for Workers and Managers (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress). This tip sheet describes recommendations for responders and healthcare workers regarding how to manage stress associated with the prolonged use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Working from Home during the COVID-19 Outbreak (HHS - ASPR). Teleworkers are provided tips—and detailed suggestions—on how to make teleworking more manageable in this resource.

Additional disaster-related behavioral health collections:

COVID-19 Behavioral Health Resources (Uniformed Services University). A variety of topics and accompanying resources are highlighted on this web page, including how to address symptoms and concerns of specific patient populations and coping with your own reactions to the crisis.

Disaster Behavioral Health (HHS - ASPR). This web page provides a list of resources for planners, responders and health care workers, public health policymakers and leaders, and specific populations to assist with mental health, substance abuse, and stress management services.

Disaster Technical Assistance Center (SAMHSA). These disaster behavioral health resources provide a wide variety of helpful information to professionals in the disaster behavioral health field.

Topic Collection: COVID-19 Behavioral Health Resources (HHS - ASPR TRACIE). The resources in this collection were created to help healthcare providers, caregivers, and the general population prepare for and manage the negative behavioral effects that can accompany a public health emergency. Topics addressed include Resources for Responders and Behavioral Healthcare Workers and Self-Care and Resilience Resources for Responders and Healthcare Workers.

Topic Collection: Mental/Behavioral Health (non-responders) (HHS - ASPR TRACIE). This Topic Collection addresses the impact of post-disaster mental and behavioral health-related challenges on the healthcare system and includes tools and information providers may use to support the needs of their patients. Included are topics such as Resilience Resources and Resources for Responders and Providers.

Topic Collection: Responder Safety and Health (HHS - ASPR TRACIE). These resources focus on safety strategies (e.g., preventing fatigue, ensuring the availability and correct use of PPE) and maintaining behavioral health (e.g., working through stress and preventing/addressing compassion fatigue).

Mobile Applications

This section lists apps that can be accessed to help provide support in a crisis.

Provider Resilience for iOS (National Center for Telehealth & Technology). This app is designed for frontline providers to help keep themselves emotionally healthy through tools to monitor their quality of life.

COVID Coach for iOS and Android (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). This app can help support an individual’s self-care and mental health during COVID-19 through education, tools, and trackers.

PFA Mobile for iOS (National Center for PTSD, NCTSN, and National Center for Telehealth and Technology). Responders can review PFA guidelines, assess their readiness to provide PFA, and gain a better understanding of additional support and resources available with this resource.

SAMHSA Disaster Mobile App for iOS and Android (SAMHSA). This app offers first responders immediate access for any type of traumatic event at every phase of response, including pre-deployment preparation, on-the-ground assistance, and post-deployment.