There is a growing body of research on mental health outcomes among, and interventions with, children exposed to disaster. A recommended form of postdisaster intervention is psychological first aid (PFA). This research examines the use of a 6-week PFA group intervention among children ages 5 to 15 displaced due to Hurricane Katrina. Within 20 months post-Katrina, children participated in the Weathering the Storm Psychological First Aid (WTS PFA) groups in public schools and at a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trailer park. A total of 99 children (95% African American) completed the WTS PFA intervention. Mean posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scores remained in the moderate range two years postevent. Postintervention scores reflect a statistically significant improvement in PTSD symptoms among the sample.
Using pilot data and practice experiences, this paper reports on an attempt at a controlled postdisaster intervention. The authors discuss use of Psychological First Aid (PFA) with children in a group format, focusing on the challenges inherent in responding to distress subsequent to a hurricane disaster. Difficulties in providing services in a timely manner are explored, and the value of PFA, even months and years after experiencing a natural disaster, is discussed. The pilot study included 27 African-American children aged 6À15 years, but due mostly to mobility, only 12 completed the entire set of six sessions and were included in the analysis. The small sample that resulted did not show positive gains with respect to reduction in trauma symptomatology but did show positive results in terms of participant satisfaction. Challenges in providing timely and relevant services included access to children, timing difficulties, multiple and ongoing sources of stress, and developmental considerations. Lessons learned are provided for others providing postdisaster services with children, as well as suggestions for subsequent research. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 8:313-326 (2009)] KEY WORDS: children and disaster, psychological first aid, group interventions.
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