Mississippi Psychological Association - Disaster Response Network (DRN)

Disaster Response Network (DRN)

About the Mississippi Psychological Association Disaster Response Network

The Disaster Response Network (DRN) of the Mississippi Psychological Association is a group of psychologists who have agreed to volunteer time to provide pro bono disaster mental health and behavioral services in response to disasters, both man-made and natural.
In addition to being licensed psychologists in Mississippi, DRN members have additional training in disaster mental health and behavioral intervention services.
DRN Volunteers work within existing disaster response agencies and organizations, especially with the American Red Cross, and seek to partner with other responder groups, but may also respond independently to disaster situations.
DRN Volunteers use their professional judgment and training to help disaster survivors, emergency and recovery responders cope with the extremely stressful and often tragic circumstances associated with disasters.
DRN members help problem-solve, make appropriate referrals to community resources, advocate for workers’ and survivors’ needs, and provide helpful information. They also focus on providing general emotional and psycho-educational support, helping people to marshal their own resources and to maximize successful resiliency skills.
DRN Volunteers are not available for ongoing, more traditional mental health care but will make an effort to assist individuals in acquiring such treatment, when such seems required and as community resources are available.
As part of disaster preparedness, or following disaster, agencies and organizations may request DRN volunteers by contacting the Mississippi Psychological Association, the Regional or State-Wide DRN Coordinators identified below:

You may also download the How to Volunteer document, Visit the DRN Forum, Get a copy of the Policy and Procedures Manual, or view a list of other DRN documents available for download. Also, you can visit the APA Help Center's Road To Resilience.

DRN Coordinator
Emily Thomas Johnson, Ph.D.

Regional DRN Coordinator(s)

Region 1	Unfilled	Desoto, Tunica, Tate, Coahoma, Quitman, Panola, Tallahatchee, Yalobusha, Grenada
Region 2	Emily Thomas-Johnson, Ph D Phone: (662) 609-4950 Click to Email	Marshall, Benton, Tippah, Alcorn, Lafayette, Union, Pontotoc, Lee, Itawamba
Region 3	Unfilled	Bolivar, Sunflower, Leflore, Carroll, Montgomery, Washington, Humphreys, Holmes, Attala
Region 4	Unfilled	Calhoun, Chickasaw, Monroe, Webster, Clay, Choctaw, Oktibbeha, Lowndes, Winston, Noxubee
Region 5	Natalie Gaughf, Ph D Phone: (601) 815-1180 Click to Email	Issaquena, Sharkey, Yazoo, Madison, Warren, Hinds, Rankin, Claiborne, Copiah, Simpson
Region 6	Unfilled	Leake, Neshoba, Kemper, Scott, Newton, Lauderdale, Smith, Jasper, Clarke
Region 7	Unfilled	Jefferson, Lincoln, Lawrence, Adams, Franklin, Wilkinson, Amite, Pike, Walthall
Region 8	Unfilled	Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones, Wayne, Marion, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Greene
Region 9	Unfilled	Pearl River, Stone, George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson

Active Volunteers

Cain, Martha Ph D
Martin, Bill Ph D
Gaughf, Natalie Ph D
Moreland, Cheryl Ph D
Thomas-Johnson, Emily Ph D
Askew, John Ph D
Cooker, Philip Ph D
McCarthy, Kevin Ph D
Schulenberg, Stefan Ph D
Tramontana, Joseph Ph D
Yazdani, Lisa Ph D
O'Jile, Judy Ph D
Buucher-Snodgrass, Michelle Ph D
Nordal, Katherine Ph D