Improving Emotional and Spiritual Recovery
In September, faith leaders from around northwestern Oklahoma area gathered for a Psychological First Aid: Faith Leaders Edition (PFA) training. This was the second of four trainings scheduled for faith leaders, offered at no cost to participants.
Clergy and other faith leaders are on the front lines of response, particularly related to disaster emotional and spiritual care needs, and especially in rural areas where mental health resources are limited. PFA is an evidence-informed modular approach designed to reduce distress caused by traumatic events and to foster short- and long-term functioning and coping. PFA offers general knowledge and skills development and is recommended for persons in various helping professions.
In response to 2017 and 2018 historic northwestern Oklahoma wildfires, the Oklahoma Conference of Churches (OCC) and SRT, Inc. are partnering to provide local community leaders new skills to assist the emotional and spiritual recovery of their disaster-affected communities. Through a specialized menu of trainings, OCC and SRT, Inc. seek to enhance the ability of local stakeholders as they assist children, adolescents, adults, and families to effectively cope with post-disaster stress and hardship.
SRT, Inc. received a grant from the Midwest Early Recovery Fund to support outreach and education efforts related to the wildfires in Oklahoma.
