PFA Team: Team Development

Step 1. Read this comprehensive guide defining PFA and detailing the key components of the practice. Use it as a jumping off point for knowledge on procedure.

Step 2. Reach out to mental health clinics, local psychology practitioners, and college psychology departments  to recruit volunteers. Many municipalities and counties have a psychotherapy guild or similar professional association, which is easily found via a quick internet search. 

Step 3. One of the barriers to creating a successful PFA team is the widespread belief that PFA is unimportant. Address this barrier by sharing case studies showing the disastrous effects of not having emotional support during emergencies. In addition, emphasize how PFA is a critical part of all categories. For example, if there isn’t a PFA volunteer at the Disaster Hub, someone in distress could disrupt medical treatment of others. In a mass casualty event, triaging can trigger intense distress among family members who can then disrupt all further medical interventions for anyone. Read this, which provides justification for a PFA Team.

Step 4. Identify a Team Lead. Note that the PFA Team is part of the Medical Reserve Corps.

Step 5. Have volunteers take FEMA IS-10 and  IS-700. Also have volunteers take  an approved Psychological First Aid class and verbal de-escalation training.

Step 6. Perform background checks on volunteers and issue credentials.

Step 7. Assign volunteers to specific Disaster Hubs and Community-Level Meeting Places.

Step 8. Develop protocols for assisting at the Disaster Hubs and Community-Level Meeting Places. Be sure to identify in each Hub or Meeting Place a quiet space where volunteers can provide PFA.

Step 9. Develop Standard Operating Procedures for the PFA Team.

Step 10. Provide annual exercises, get-togethers, and training for volunteers.