First 300 Mental Health Responders Complete NIMS Training

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To help fulfill the Executive Order, the Division of Mental Health Disaster & Terrorism Branch conducted three large regional training sessions in October and November. Nearly 100 disaster mental health responders attended each session. The half-day training programs were co-facilitated by Vince Jones, Coordinator of the Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and President of the County OEM Coordinator's Association, and Steve Crimando, Director of Training for the Division of Mental Health Services Disaster & Terrorism Branch. Additional NIMS training sessions are being scheduled for early 2006, and each crisis counselor must receive this important training to be considered a deployable responder. Please check the 2006 disaster mental health training schedule periodically for updates about NIMS and other training opportunities.

You can find out more about NIMS and other training events at: www.disastermentalhealthnj.com under the Professional Resources.