by Kathy Foster …
Project H.O.P.E. representatives met with the Chipley City Council Tuesday evening to explain the mission of the organization and to announce they were available in Washington County to help survivors recover from the often adverse reactions to disaster and begin to rebuild their lives.
Their focus is on helping individuals understand their personal reactions, helping them plan action steps and solutioins to resovle losses and overcome adversities, and linking them to other community resources.
Describing the crisis counseling program as strength-based, outreach-oriented, more practical than psychological in nature, diagnosis free, conducted in non-traditional setting, and designed to strenthen existing community support systems, the Project H.O.P.E. representatives said the program consists of services focused on preventing or helping people recover from the adverse effects of a disaster.
Asked where the services are provided the spokespeople said services are community based and often are performed in survivor’s homes, shelters, temporary living sites, schools, and churches.
The services offered include supportive crisis counseling crisis counseling, education, development of coping skills, and linkage to appropriate community resources.
- Individual crisis counseling
- Basis supportive or educational contact
- Group crisis counseling
- Public education
- Community networking and support
- Assessment, referral, and resources linkage
- Development and distribution of educational materials
For more information or assistance call 1-850-522-4485, ext 1840 or visit drt@lmccares.org; or call the National Disaster Distress Hotline at 1-800-985-5990; or text “Talk with Us” to 66746.
