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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Cheryll Bowers-Stephens, MD, MBA, Louisiana Dept of Health and Hospitals, Former Assistant Secr Office of Mental Health, tbd, Baton Rouge, LA 70821, 777, CBSPSY@aol.com

In the hours that preceded the warning of Katrina a number of decisions had to be made. While the media has focused to a great extent on the decisions and preparedness of such first responders as federal, state and local officials, health care providers, police and emergency agencies little discussion has taken place at the level of individuals, families and neighborhoods. Yet it at this level that mental health service providers find much resulting distress. African American women found themselves frequently faced with decisions of preparedness and evacuations for not only their immediate family but the families of their spouses, children, and parents. African American women have also borne the burden in response to Katrina to maintaining reconstituted households which have served no matter how crowded as primary shelter for those from the Gulf region who evacuated. Seldom do we think about Black women as first responders during a disaster but yet from a cultural perspective the response of Black women is critical to the survival of the African American community. This presentation will discuss Louisiana's response to Katrina with a focus on the role of African American women, overall mental health needs of the African American community and perspectives on culturally specific mental health preparedness for African Americans.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Discuss Lousiana's response to Katrina with a focus on the role of African Amercian women, overall mental health needs of the African American community and perspectives on culturally specific mental health preparedness for African Americans.

Keywords: Mental Health, Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No