How to Become a DRN Volunteer
by Margie Schroeder, Director, Disaster Response Network
Information about APA’s Disaster Response Network
Disasters on every scale, from hurricanes to house fires, strike thousands of Americans every year. Many psychologists have sought disaster training so they can use their professional abilities to help victims and relief workers carry on through often stressful and tragic circumstances. The APA’s DRN program was initiated in 1991 and was officially unveiled as the APA’s centennial gift to the nation in August of 1992 at the annual convention. More than 2,500 APA members are part of the DRN, and the network continues to grow and evolve as more psychologists participate. The DRN works primarily with the American Red Cross (ARC) in offering disaster assistance, assisting ARC’s disaster mental health activity through both its national headquarters and chapters nationwide. State DRN programs also work with state departments of mental health, offices of emergency management, local fire and police departments, and other relief organizations.
The DRN is organized on a state-by-state basis, and most (but not all) state psychological associations have a DRN coordinator. APA’s DRN office provides general guidance and facilitates the exchange of information among the state programs and to/from the American Red Cross and other disaster relief organizations.
Licensed psychologists interested in volunteering on disaster relief operations with the American Red Cross are asked to complete a one-day training course entitled “Foundations of Disaster Mental Health.” This training is available through your local Red Cross chapter. Please contact your state DRN coordinator and your local Red Cross chapter for the dates and locations of future trainings. (The “Introduction to Disaster Services” course, a prerequisite for the training, can be completed on-line at http://www.redcross.org/flash/course01_v01 )
To join the DRN program, please contact your state psychological association and find out the name and contact information for your state DRN coordinator. Contact this individual to inform him or her of your interest. APA’s DRN office also maintains a database that we used to track and contact DRN members. Please complete the Member Data Form included with these materials and mail it to the address indicated on the form or go to http://www.apa.org/practice/drndb.html to complete the form on-line. Once the DRN office is aware of your interest in the program, you will begin to receive our quarterly electronic newsletter “Outreach” that you can opt out of any time. Outreach has news on both the DRN and APA’s Public Education Campaign. To read recent copies of the newsletter, please go to http://www.apapractice.org/apo/public/outreach_newsletter.html
IMPORTANT: Please note that becoming a DRN member does not automatically sign you up for deployment by the Red Cross to disaster sites. For that, licensed psychologists who have completed the Red Cross training must contact their local Red Cross chapters and fill out the necessary volunteer application forms.
Please let us know if we can provide further information about the DRN. We look forward to working with you.
