Activities


Dr. Sander Koyfman and Dr. Noah DeGaetano, Kenya 2009.

  • Kenya - DPO volunteer services requested by Maersk Line, Limited - http://www.maersklinelimited.com/ -  after the hijacking of Maersk Alabama off the Somali Coast.  2 DPO psychiatrist responded in support of Maersk Field Team and spent 5 days on location in Mombasa, Kenya returning to Andrews Air Force Base with the crew on April 16th, 2009.
  • Introducing - DPOTalk - This is our newest section of the website where we hope an active discussion would develop to facilitate a productive exchange of ideas and information.
  • DPO Activated - recent ditching of the plane in NYC came off without a hitch - DPO was one of the response organizations that were activated within minutes of the event.  Luckily, no direct services by DPO volunteers were needed.
  • Mumbai - our deepest sympathies go out to the victims of the terrible events in Mumbai, India.  If you are a local provider - please take a look at a variety of materials under our Downloads section.  Please email us or call directly if there are specific questions that we can help answer.  There is an ongoing mission by DPO team - more on that in the coming weeks.
  • Training - download full video of the DPO intro course.  More video modules added regularly.  Follow the links in the Downloads section.

  • DPO President Visits the White House

    September 8, 2008 - DPO President Craig L. Katz was invited to the White House to hear remarks on volunteering by President George W. Bush. Joined on the South Lawn by representatives from volunteer groups from around the country, Dr. Katz heard many themes that resonate with DPO as it celebrates its tenth anniversary this month. "President Bush celebrated the 61 million Americans who the census has found now volunteer in their communities," according to Dr. Katz. "But the President expressed concern that voluntarism may fade as 9/11 recedes into the past.  He urged Americans to volunteer not because of 9/11 but because they are needed. I could not agree more."  Dr. Katz recalled how DPO existed before 9/11 but its future long after 9/11 remains in the hands and hearts of those who continue to give of themselves through any means they can.

    The full text of the President's remarks on Monday's South Lawn ceremony can be found on the link below.

    http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/09/20080908-6.html

  • China - Remote Training Participants - please go the File Cabinet section of our Downloads section to download the slides and handouts.
  • China 2008 - DPO is providing long distance Disaster Mental Health training in cooperation with the Chinese Academy of Science for staffers of local Mental Health Facilities responding as a part of China's large scale disaster relief effort for victims of May 12th earthquake.
  • Iraqi Refugee Crisis - Jordan, Syria, Lebanon - DPO is actively engaging with relief organizations on the ground to offer and provide training and support.  Read more...
  • Children's Mental Health - DPO Child Mental Health Committee - Kids Corner.Read more...
  • American Red Cross - DPO and ARC renew the MOU.
    ARC posting - April 2, 2008

DPO President Corner

Dear DPO Volunteer,


Today, on this National Day of Service, DPO wanted to reach out to all of our volunteers and recognize your past service and advise you of our future plans. It has for most of you been months, if not longer, since we have communicated with you, and we are very pleased to be re-connecting.  As you may know, DPO, as many not-for-profit organizations these days, was forced to close its office in Lower Manhattan and let go of our dedicated staff in December, 2007 due to budgetary issues.  Despite this, the Board has continued to work behind the scenes to re-vitalize the organization and use this as an opportunity to make it a better organization.  We have fully dusted ourselves off and are gradually getting back on some solid footing.


To update you on where the organization stands:

  • The Board continues to meet and, as it did before we grew in the post 9/11 era, to provide much of the manpower behind the organization.
  • We are operating with the experienced help of Ms. Lovdy Hamm, who is serving as our Program Coordinator, part time.
  • DPO is once more based at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. We remain grateful to Mount Sinai for supporting us in so many ways since 2000. 
  • The website has been updated and continues to be updated with news and resources (www.disasterpsych.org). Dr. Sander Koyfman has been the driving force behind this effort.
  • We have recently introduced two new important features - DPOTalk - http://dpotalk.blogspot.com/ and FileCabinet - do check them out!  Follow a remarkable journey that one of DPO volunteers, Dr. Grant Brenner, is undertaking right now in India to offer DPO assistance to the victims of recent terrorist attacks.
  • We have renewed our collaboration with the American Red Cross in Greater New York.
  • In 2008, DPO provided long distance training and assistance to mental health professionals living in or traveling to earthquake stricken China, providing us with a lesson about how to help without leaving our communities.
  • We are planning an updated DPO training in the New York City area in collaboration with the American Psychiatric Association. This should occur by early 2009.

2008 marked DPO's tenth anniversary. DPO is still here, and we hope you are still with us. Please consider contributing yourself or whatever you can to our efforts. To this end,

- If you wish to remain an active volunteer, please provide updated copies of your medical license and malpractice coverage by February 15, 2009.  info@disasterpsych.org 
- If you know someone who would make a valuable Board Member, please respond to this e-mail and change the Subject line to "DPO Board Member Referral".

Sincerely,

Craig L. Katz, M.D.

Our Mission 

Disaster Psychiatry Outreach (DPO) mission is to alleviate suffering in the aftermath of disaster through the expertise and good will of psychiatrists. To fulfill this mission, DPO responds to catastrophes and provides education and training in disaster mental health to a range of professionals in the healthcare, public health and emergency management sectors.

We:

  • Organize volunteer psychiatrists who provide immediate mental health services in the aftermath of disasters in conjunction with government and private charitable organizations;
  • Develop and implement educational programs, training, and referral mechanisms, and;
  • Develop research and policy in the field of disaster mental health.

DPO's activities are guided by its vision to prevent the development of mental illness after disaster.

Psychosocial Services for Children - expanded section - check back soon.

Video Training Tools - support for our 600+ volunteer base.  Check out Downloads section for full 3.5 hour training video.