The Red Cross needs ACA volunteers for Hurricane Gustov

The American Red Cross is in great need of disaster mental health volunteers following Hurricane Gustov's landfall in the Gulf Coast region this past weekend.

The Red Cross has asked ACA to notify our members about this need. Both registered and non-registered DMH (Disaster Mental Health)-eligible members are asked to contact their local Red Cross chapter if available to deploy to the Gulf states. The chapter locator on www.redcross.org can be used to identify your local Red Cross chapter. Make sure you let your Red Cross chapter know that you are a licensed mental health professional and are volunteering as a disaster mental health volunteer, not as a general volunteer.

If you are already registered as a Red Cross DMH worker and cannot respond at this time, please contact your chapter to update your availability in DSHR (the Red Cross national database system) as this will expedite a later deployment.

Red Cross regulations require that all disaster mental health volunteers must hold a state mental health license (e.g. LPC, LCPC, LMHC) or hold state certification as a school counselor. Please do not contact the Red Cross at this time if do not hold a state mental health license or school counseling certification.

While the Red Cross is calling for both registered and non-registered licensed/certified counselors because of the extreme need at this time, please be aware that the deployment of non-registered Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Volunteers may be delayed until they receive the Red Cross Foundations of Disaster Mental Health (FDMH) training.

ACA thanks you for your interest in meeting the mental health needs of those affected by Hurricane Gustov. Again, if you are able to be deployed to the Gulf Coast please contact your local Red Cross chapter.