The Behavioral Health Team will Provide Support Services to Maui Residents

This week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), by way of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), deployed a Behavioral Health Team, consisting of 25 Public Health Service officers from the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps, to Hawaii to offer behavioral well being help companies to people impacted by the current wildfires.

“Tragedies like the Maui wildfires have a profound human impact on communities,” mentioned Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Dawn O’Connell. “We are committed to doing all we can to assist the people of Hawaii, and we are working with partners on the ground to assess ongoing needs to support recovery efforts.”

The specialised USPHS Commissioned Corps group presently deployed consists of scientific psychiatrists, psychologists, social employees, and nurse practitioners. Public Health Service officers began their work on Wednesday by helping the group medical facility in Lahaina with scientific workload. This work contains schooling, behavioral well being evaluation, and referral for adults, youngsters, and households. Public Health Service officers can even present behavioral well being companies to people and households as they return residence.

“When natural disasters occur and climate-related hazards are exacerbated by weather, Public Health Services officers are trained and ready to respond to humanitarian missions and public health crises,” mentioned Adm Rachel Levine, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health. “Residents of Hawaii deserve to have a safe place to live and to have their land protected. While our officers cannot replace what was lost, they are committed to making this nation a healthier, safer place to live and giving individuals, who are often in their difficult moments, hope for a better tomorrow.”

The USPHS Commissioned Corps group will bolster response efforts from the State of Hawaii, Maui County Government, Lahaina Health Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and ASPR.

“The wildfires have left communities devasted,” mentioned Vice Adm. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General. “Survivors are grieving the loss of loved ones and the loss of their homes and community. The mental health impact of such disasters is profound, and I am grateful to the Public Health Service officers for providing much needed counseling and support as individuals and families begin to rebuild. Public Health Service officers routinely provide critical support in the wake of major disasters from hurricanes to tornados to wildfires. I’m thankful for their bravery and dedication to helping those in need.”

The USPHS Commissioned Corps is among the eight uniformed companies and is a part of HHS. Public Health Service officers serve all through the federal authorities to offer important well being care companies to underserved and susceptible populations, reply to public well being emergencies or world emergencies, and lead public well being applications and coverage growth.

Soon after the wildfires, ASPR deployed personnel to Hawaii from the National Disaster Medical System and different public well being personnel to handle the well being impacts of the catastrophe. The skilled mortuary specialists on the group, together with regional response workers, supplied help throughout the state by helping with sufferer identification and respectfully processing human stays.

Last month, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a Public Health Emergency for Hawaii. The declaration offers the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ well being care suppliers and suppliers better flexibility in assembly the emergency well being wants of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

You can discover extra details about HHS’ response to the Maui wildfires at aspr.hhs.gov/HawaiiWildfires.