Conference Educates Black Families on Disaster Response

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POWERFUL CONFERENCE EDUCATED BLACK FAMILIES ON DISASTER RESPONSE

Baltimore, MD --  Like hurricanes or floods, community disasters - such as police killings of unarmed Black people and lead-tainted water in Flint, Michigan - traumatize the people who directly experience the events, who witness them and those who are close to the victims. In each of these cases, Black people bear a disproportionate share of the burden.

That is why the All Healers Mental Health Alliance and the Institute of the Black World 21st Century Black Family Summit are focusing their healing efforts on manmade as well as natural disasters impacting Black communities.  Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the All Healers Mental Health Alliance (AHMHA), a national network of mental health professionals, health advocates, first responders and faith leaders, has worked collaboratively to facilitate long-term responses to the mental health needs of survivors in underserved communities affected by natural disasters, manmade disasters, and other traumatic events.

They have found that underserved communities carry a heavy burden of disadvantage prior to disasters which makes them even more vulnerable to the devastating impact of disasters in the form of being unable to relocate, rebuild, or regroup after a disastrous event. In addition, many of these communities, both urban and rural, are segregated by race resulting in communities of color being overlooked by emergency services and resources during disasters and/or receiving disparate treatment.

Article On the All Healers Mental Health Alliance (AHMHA) Continues After Sponsor's Message Below...