DENVER-Crisis counseling services will continue over the next nine months for survivors of the Colorado flooding disaster in September 2013 because of a $4 million federal grant. FEMA and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration have awarded the $4,058,060 grant to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment through the 2014 Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP).  

The new grant will allow counselors to continue door-to-door services and community outreach counseling programs. Since the disaster, Colorado Spirit crisis counselors have:

• Talked directly with 18,178 people and provided referrals and other helpful information to more than 88,000;
• Met with nearly 1,200 individuals or families in their homes.

CCP was established by the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide mental health assistance and training activities in designated disaster areas. The program provides the following services:

• Individual crisis counseling and group crisis counseling to help survivors understand their reactions and improve coping strategies, review their options and connect with other individuals and agencies that may assist them;
• Development and distribution of education materials such as flyers, brochures and website information on disaster-related topics and resources;
• Relationship building with community organizations, faith-based groups and local agencies.