Hurricane Katrina was a disaster of monumental proportions, claiming many, many lives, homes and jobs. Those affected will be coping with grief, unemployment, homelessness or tenuous housing situations, relocation and/or trauma for months to come.

As a behavioral health company with tremendous expertise and resources available through its staff, provider network and partner companies, ValueOptions quickly became engaged in relief efforts to help victims get through this difficult time. We are pleased to have been able to help in the following ways in the immediate aftermath:

• In Louisiana, ValueOptions worked with the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to deploy behavioral health clinicians to areas struggling to serve the needs of evacuees. A team of ValueOptions clinicians deployed to Baton Rouge to directly support relief efforts. These clinicians offered seasoned crisis expertise to those people in need of on-site mental health services. Working with SAMHSA, ValueOptions also deployed a second team to Houston in support of the large evacuee population there.
  
  
• Also in Texas, ValueOptions assumed a front-line role in assisting the Dallas Public Health System, deploying clinical and eligibility staff to immediately assist evacuees. We established mobile crisis centers and worked with our provider partners to provide 24 hour a day, seven day a week on-site mental health assessments, placement within various housing programs, as well as critical pharmacy services. We trained Red Cross workers so that they could help identify evacuees in need of mental health services. Also, we accommodated physician volunteers within our provider network and extended network, and extended pharmacy availability and access to those in need.
  
  
• In Arizona, before the first evacuee arrived in Phoenix, ValueOptions deployed on-site crisis teams for adults and children, substance abuse teams, counseling teams, and evaluation staff. We scheduled psychiatrists to work as part of the medical treatment teams, ensuring a thorough mental health assessment for every person seen. And, we created an on-site 24-hour pharmacy in the coliseum. This mobile facility provided all physical health and behavioral health medications needed by evacuees.
  
  
• Across the disaster area, ValueOptions instituted a plan for all military installations whereby they could call for assistance regarding displaced military beneficiaries. We contacted providers to verify availability and to encourage flexibility during this crisis. We also contacted all facilities in impacted areas to determine if any beneficiaries had been relocated. We also worked to ensure no lapses in prescription refills. 
  
  
• As you may know, we worked with our employer clients to help them develop ongoing programs for employee emotional support. We set up on-site critical incident management services for impacted work locations across the Gulf States, as well as individual counseling, with an emphasis on easily accessible telephonic support. We held a teleconference series to share suggestions on leading during crisis and on what to expect as the tragedy evolved. We disseminated information to help employees and managers cope in the aftermath of the hurricane, and we referred members to community resources that could help manage trauma.
  

“Because the extent of the devastation was so great, we will be continuing to see the financial, emotional and psychological effects for months to come,” said Ronald I. Dozoretz, MD, CEO, chairman and president of ValueOptions. “I am proud of ValueOptions’ response in the immediacy of this disaster, but much work remains. We remain committed to helping our members in need in the months to come.”

ValueOptions regrets the losses and hardships that so many have had to endure. As recovery efforts continue and emotional needs continue to emerge, we will continue to support affected organizations and individuals.