September 12, 2005

APA Hurricane Katrina Relief Activities

In response to Hurricane Katrina, the American Psychological Association (APA) will take a number of steps designed to achieve the following goals:

• Provide assistance to victims of the storm through gifts to charitable and relief organizations targeting recovery efforts in the affected areas.
• Provide financial assistance in the form of dues relief to APA members whose homes and/or livelihoods have been affected by the storm.
• Work to ensure that cultural competency skills training is part of the mental health response to disaster-relief efforts.
• Help the psychology academic and training communities recover from the storm.
• Help foster information exchange within the psychology community.
• Educate the public and policymakers about trauma, trauma recovery, and the role of psychologists.

Specifically, APA will do the following:

1. Provide financial assistance to victims of the storm through gifts to charitable and relief organizations targeting recovery and rebuilding efforts in the affected areas

APA will donate $50,000 to each of the following organizations - the Red Cross, the Bush-Clinton Katrina Recovery Fund, and Habitat for Humanity. These donations will be earmarked for Katrina recovery efforts.

APA will publicize these contributions and encourage members to make their own contributions to these organizations or others doing recovery work in the affected areas.

2. Provide financial assistance in the form of dues relief to APA members whose homes and or livelihoods have been affected by the storm

One-Year Dues and Assessment Exemption: Provide a one-year dues and practice assessment exemption for all members and affiliates who live and/or work within the affected areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama (as determined by the U.S. Post Office's designation of zip code areas where mail delivery is currently impossible as a result of storm damage/or by FEMA disaster designations). With the dues statements that will go out later this month, a cover letter will be included to members in the affected areas informing them that they are automatically being given a hardship waiver to their 2006 dues. 

3. Help the psychology academic and training communities recover from the storm

A) One-Year Fees Exemption: Offer a one-year accreditation and sponsor approval fees exemption for academic/institutional sponsors of accredited programs and for CE sponsors in the storm effected areas.

B) Electronic Product Licensing Extension: Allow a 4-month free contract extension on all leases and licenses to colleges and universities where the impact and damage are so bad that they will not be opening for classes for 2-4 months. Estimated costs are approximately $33,000.

C) Grants to Psychology Departments/Training: Establish a $50,000 fund to assist psychology education and training departments/institutions in the replacement of destroyed materials or other needs associated with the hurricane. Departments can apply for grants up to $5,000.

4. Build programs to add to and complement the number of psychologists with training to work in disaster-response situations and work to ensure that cultural competency skills training is part of the mental health response to disaster-relief efforts.

A) Facilitation of Ongoing Mental Health Efforts: Continue to encourage members to volunteer with Red Cross/APA Disaster Response Network and SAMHSA mental health efforts by placing relevant links on our Web site. Provide other relevant links when they become available.  Create and supply information materials to other community leaders and members who will have direct and informal contact with storm victims such as teachers, ministers, hairdressers and police officers.  These materials will include information on loss, traumatic stress, dislocation and resilience.

B) Grants to State Psychological Associations: Establish a $50,000 fund to allow state associations to apply for grants for activities related to mental health training and services related to Hurricane Katrina. Funds could also be used to meet other state association needs related to the hurricane. Each grant could be up to $5,000.

C) Emergency Task Force on Multicultural Training: This would be a nine member task force (four representatives from the ethic minority associations and five other members appointed by the APA President).   It will begin its work quickly utilizing face-to-face meetings and web and telephone communications to make recommendations to the Board about ways APA and the ethnic minority psychological associations could help ensure culturally competent services to victims and their families.

5. Help foster information exchange within the psychology community

Clearinghouse of Resources for Psychologists in Need: Provide support for Division 31 (State, Provincial, and Territorial Associations) and CESPPA in their effort to create a Web-based clearinghouse of resources needed and resources available through each of the 50 state associations.

6. Educate the public about trauma, and trauma recovery, and the role of psychologists

A) Outreach to Media Organizations: In addition to our ongoing efforts to respond to media requests, we can proactively contact media outlets to offer experts on the mental health aspects of the hurricane aftermath. In particular, we can reach out to national programs such as Dr. Phil (who has already consulted APA staff) and Oprah to assist in shows that might take this focus.

B) Use APA.Org as a national public education tool: Materials about trauma and trauma recovery have been posted on the site and will be updated as appropriate. APA.org as an information response has been publicized through press releases and in national publications.

C) Outreach to Policymakers and Federal Agencies:  Facilitate and provide
input on legislative and agency activities related to Hurricane Katrina
relief efforts to promote the application of psychological science and
to ensure the inclusion of a mental health perspective.

Total APA Contribution to Hurricane Relief Efforts

The cost of the aforementioned activities in terms of donations and forgone revenue will be approximately $465,000 for APA.  This does not include considerable in-kind contributions from staff efforts.

Future Steps by APA

APA recognizes that the consequences of hurricane Katrina are still unfolding and will be doing so for some time.   Therefore, the association will continue to monitor developments and stands ready to provide additional relief assistance as appropriate in the future.

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APA Office of Public Affairs

The American Psychological Association

750 First Street, NE

Washington, DC 20002-4242

(202) 336-5700

Email: KatrinaRelief@apa.org