Turning Point Partners in Bringing Disaster Behavioral Health Support to Northern Colorado

In September 2024, Turning Point Center for Youth & Family Development joined forces with the State of Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) 's Disaster Behavioral Health Program. Through this funding and education partnership, Turning Point joined other community-based Mental Health and Substance Use treatment programs in a state-wide effort to prepare communities for better disaster responses. We agreed to administer five recommended deliverables through our participation in this program. 

For our first deliverable, we were to distribute Pediatric Disaster Behavioral Health Tools to staff and at least one first responder organization, helping to prepare staff and emergency response organizations on how best to support children in times of disaster.

Turning Point administered the 'Engage Calm Distract' training to staff during our December 13 staff meeting as part of monthly mandatory training (32 staff present). We also provided training to 4 Poudre Fire District firefighters on December 17. The trainers discussed various factors related to disaster response and children in each training. We had five backpacks to showcase as part of the training. The backpacks are filled with supplies to help distract and calm children during disasters, and participants were able to look through the backpacks and familiarize themselves with the tools. In each training, participants were given a client scenario for role-playing and opportunities to ask follow-up questions. The backpacks are available for use in future disaster situations. 

Thanks to this partnership with CDPHE's Disaster Behavioral Health response grant, we are better preparing our staff and community partners to support individuals in northern Colorado during times of disaster. Stay tuned for more information and resources as we work through the following four deliverables.