Flood damage goes beyond the physical
NORWICH – The extensive damage caused by recent flooding was immediately calculated in terms of money lost and structures destroyed. What is often left out, county health officials said, is the intangible mental anguish and emotional response victims may have now that the water has receded and the process of recovery is underway.
“We really need to try and get the services out there,” said County Mental Hygiene Director Mary Ann Spryn. “Basically we’re going to try and help people deal with what they are dealing with, and their reactions to what is happening.”
Spryn detailed a grant proposal from the state Office of Mental Health called “Project Recovery,” that would issue funding for the county to hire six individuals to provide crisis counseling, hold informational sessions, and work with victims of the flooding to help them cope with their situation.
The County Health and Human Services Committee carried a motion Tuesday to expedite the project’s approval directly to County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Decker. The grant proposal is also being looked at by county attorney Richard W. Breslin.
The application for the grant was filed back on July 17, just before the state’s deadline set 14 days after the county was declared a disaster area.
The project is funded through the state, Spryn said, and it would last 60 days from July 3, but she said that a nine month extension was available if necessary, but require another proposal.
“The idea is not that flood victims need mental health services,” Spryn said, adding that it is not designed to create long-term care situations. “The project would provide the community education on ways that individuals respond to disasters, and how to monitor those responses.”
The county would administer the project, and some committee members had concerns regarding the cost of time taken to run the operation.
“I’m surprised you’re not getting any compensation,” said Town of German Supervisor Richard Schlag.
Spryn indicated that the project would offset the costs and hours “we predicted before this was available.”
The Chenango Health Network would be contracted to provide the counselors, at a total cost of just under $103K.
According to Chairman Decker’s office, as of this morning he had not yet had a chance to look at the proposal.
“We really need to try and get the services out there,” said County Mental Hygiene Director Mary Ann Spryn. “Basically we’re going to try and help people deal with what they are dealing with, and their reactions to what is happening.”
Spryn detailed a grant proposal from the state Office of Mental Health called “Project Recovery,” that would issue funding for the county to hire six individuals to provide crisis counseling, hold informational sessions, and work with victims of the flooding to help them cope with their situation.
The County Health and Human Services Committee carried a motion Tuesday to expedite the project’s approval directly to County Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard Decker. The grant proposal is also being looked at by county attorney Richard W. Breslin.
The application for the grant was filed back on July 17, just before the state’s deadline set 14 days after the county was declared a disaster area.
The project is funded through the state, Spryn said, and it would last 60 days from July 3, but she said that a nine month extension was available if necessary, but require another proposal.
“The idea is not that flood victims need mental health services,” Spryn said, adding that it is not designed to create long-term care situations. “The project would provide the community education on ways that individuals respond to disasters, and how to monitor those responses.”
The county would administer the project, and some committee members had concerns regarding the cost of time taken to run the operation.
“I’m surprised you’re not getting any compensation,” said Town of German Supervisor Richard Schlag.
Spryn indicated that the project would offset the costs and hours “we predicted before this was available.”
The Chenango Health Network would be contracted to provide the counselors, at a total cost of just under $103K.
According to Chairman Decker’s office, as of this morning he had not yet had a chance to look at the proposal.
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