NEWARK — The Mental Health & Recovery Board of Licking and Knox Counties has announced the launch of a comprehensive Behavioral Health Disaster Preparedness Project to strengthen how communities prepare for, respond to and recover from traumatic events due to a wide variety of disasters.

The board has retained Jim Adams, president of Rise 4 Solutions, as project consultant. Adams will guide planning, partner coordination, and the development of a countywide crisis response framework.

“As we’ve seen in recent years, disasters, whether natural, public health, or acts of violence, have lasting behavioral health impacts,” said Kay Spergel, executive director of the MHR Board.

“This project will ensure first responders, schools, health systems, and behavioral health providers are aligned to deliver timely, trauma-informed support when it matters most.”

Adams said, “This work is about developing a mental health crisis response that will be able to meet the needs of victims and their families immediately after a disaster, and then continue that care well into the future.

“We hope to bring our local partners together to develop trauma-informed care protocols, as well as train and implement a Crisis Response Team, so that in the first minutes, hours, days and even weeks or months after a crisis, this community will receive the quality care it needs. The work the board does across Licking and Knox counties has really impressed me. Their goal to create this crisis system of care for disasters is just another example of how they are trying to meet the needs of local community members.”

Project scope

The project will:

  • Convene a multi-agency Steering Committee representing behavioral health providers, EMAs, law enforcement, schools, public health, and community organizations.
  • Conduct a needs assessment and review current plans to close gaps in equity, accessibility, and cultural/linguistic competence.
  • Develop clear crisis protocols for schools and community settings for the minutes, hours, days, and months following a traumatic event.
  • Provide training and public education (e.g., NOVA Crisis Response, Psychological First Aid) to expand local capacity.

These priorities build on the board’s prior planning and partnerships and are supported by state BSCA preparedness efforts.

“Our goal is to make sure that when the next crisis comes—whether it’s a natural disaster, an act of violence, or a public health emergency—we’re not meeting for the first time in the middle of chaos,” said Vince Sabino, project director and associate director of the MHR Board.

“Through the BSCA grant, we’re building real partnerships and preparedness systems now, so that our community can respond together, faster, and with compassion.”