A qualitative analysis of barriers, challenges, and successes in meeting the needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuee families.
Hurricane Katrina caused many individuals to evacuate to towns and cities throughout the United States. Psychological First Aid (PFA) is a treatment program designed to help clinicians and other disaster relief workers address the needs of adults, youth, and families immediately following disasters. We conducted focus groups with disaster relief and evacuee service providers in the Kansas City Metro Area as an exploratory study to identify their perceptions of the needs of evacuees. Participants identified a number of mental health needs, as well as displacement-related challenges, including loss of social support, material loss, unemployment, and other stressful life events that were secondary to the hurricane. Many of these needs are consistent with principles presented in the PFA manual. We also found that service providers faced unique challenges when attempting to assist evacuees. We discuss implications of these findings for treatment programs and provide suggestions for addressing barriers to care.
University of North Dakota, Corwin-Larimore Rm. 215, 319 Harvard Street Stop 8380, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8380, USA. johnpaul.legerski@email.und.edu
John-Paul
JP
Legerski
Eric M
EM
Vernberg
Brian J
BJ
Noland
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055867:Cyclonic Storms; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005392:First Aid; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007615:Kansas; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012036:Refugees / Q000523:psychology; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult