Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

Established by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Disaster Technical Assistance Center (DTAC) supports SAMHSA's efforts to prepare States, Territories, Tribes, and local entities to deliver an effective mental health and substance abuse (behavioral health) response to disasters.

This brochure provides clear and concise resource information about SAMHSA DTAC, its mission, and its services. View a PDF version of the brochure. [PDF – 283 Kb]

Contact SAMHSA DTAC to access knowledgeable technical assistance specialists who are available to provide the following services:

Preparedness

SAMHSA DTAC assists States, Territories, Tribes, and local entities with all-hazards disaster behavioral health response planning that allows them to prepare for and respond to both natural and human-caused disasters. SAMHSA DTAC also supports collaboration between mental health and substance abuse authorities, Federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations and facilitates the sharing of information and best practices with the disaster behavioral health field. Please contact SAMHSA DTAC staff for the following:

• Consultation to review disaster mental health and substance abuse plans
• Disaster behavioral health trainings or consultations
• Research on emergent issues

Response

SAMHSA DTAC supports the SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services in the provision of disaster behavioral health technical assistance grant support to eligible States, Territories, and federally recognized Tribes. SAMHSA DTAC staff members are knowledgeable about the experiences of States that have confronted certain types of disasters, and they can relay lessons learned and best practices that have grown out of these experiences. Contact SAMHSA DTAC staff for assistance in identifying the following:

• Suitable publications
• Psychoeducational materials
• Expert consultants

SAMHSA DTAC provides grant-specific technical assistance and support for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s CCP. The mission of the CCP is to assist individuals and communities in recovering from the effects of natural and human-caused disasters through the provision of community-based outreach and psychoeducational services. For more information on the CCP please visit http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/proguide.asp.

Featured Items

The SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series (DBHIS) contains resource collections and toolkits pertinent to disaster behavioral health. Installments target specific populations, specific types of disasters, and other topics related to all-hazards disaster behavioral health preparedness and response.

The Dialogue is a quarterly e-communication that provides practical and down-to-earth information for state and territory disaster behavioral health coordinators, local service providers, federal stakeholders, tribes, and nongovernmental organizations.

The SAMHSA DTAC Bulletin is a monthly e-communication that is used to share updates in the field, post upcoming activities, and highlight new resources.

SAMHSA DTAC webinars and podcasts present information on disaster behavioral health topics, including an introduction to the field of disaster behavioral health, promising practices in disaster behavioral health planning, and cultural awareness.

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Last updated 1/31/13