The East Bay Chapter of CAMFT initially formed a Disaster Response Team (DRT) in 2000, long before CAMFT formed its Trauma Response Network. As this team has grown and clarified its requirements and goals, it became more confusing to refer to our group as the DRT. Thus, in 2005, we aligned our group as with CAMFT’s TRN and renamed it EB-TRN. The leader is the EB-CAMFT Trauma Response Network Chapter Coordinator. Members are referred to as “Trauma Responders.”
CAMFT has created the CAMFT Trauma Response Network Task Force (TRNTF), which coordinates the efforts of all of the Chapter TRNs. There is also a California Disaster Mental Health Coalition (CDMHC) that works with all types of mental health providers in an effort to have a coordinated response to natural disasters or strikes of terrorism in the state. This group includes Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Psychiatrists, Psychiatric Nurses, State Mental health providers, agencies such as FEMA and our local governments, county and state. This has been quite an undertaking by CAMFT!
There have been many changes due to this larger network, the main one being the addition of a two-day training requirement each year. Typically, one of the courses has been “In the Eye of the Storm,” taught by Diane Myers (RN, MSN, CTS) with the curriculum defined by CAMFT to address MFTs' issues in responding to trauma. We also have a new TRN application and a questionnaire to be filled out by members prior to responding to a traumatic event or natural disaster. Although, according to Red Cross and CAMFT guidelines, only licensed MFTs can be full members of our Chapter TRN, all interested interns are invited to attend meetings and learn more about the required trainings and what to expect as a member.
Joining the TRN enables members to be notified efficiently through our E-Tree and/or directly by CAMFT when there is a need for resonders, meet and network with other responders, get support through the training process, and attend free trainings each year provided by CAMFT.
Click here for information on how to join our Chapter's Trauma Response Network.