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In a timely book with a powerful and persuasive message, Dr. Harold G.
Koenig addresses federal, state, and local government policy leaders, urging
them to more fully integrate religious organizations into the formal disaster
response system, and he then provides recommendations on how this can
effectively be done. Koenig also advocates faith communities and organizations
to learn more about the role they can play in responding to disasters
and terrorism.
The chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina made extraordinarily clear
the gaps in the United States' disaster policies. At the same time, the contributions
of organized faith communities were highlights amidst the bungled
federal, state, and local responses. One example is the New York Times,
September 9, 2005, headline: "A New Meaning for 'Organized Religion':
It Helps the Needy Quickly." But as faith-based organizations look for ways
to help, there are few, if any, guidelines for them.
This book provides information on the psychological, social, and spiritual
responses to trauma. It addresses how the emergency response system
works, and the role that religious communities can play in disaster response
and recovery in terms of providing emotional and spiritual care for victims.
It advocates integrating mental health into emergency response systems
directed at those affected by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and terrorism.
"The aim is to help victims of disaster to better cope with the stresses
they face, as well as help direct care workers (firefighters, police, health care
providers, etc.) to deal better emotionally with the trauma to which they
are exposed so they can remain effective and functional on the job," explains
Dr. Koenig, whose research on the healing power of faith has been published
worldwide.
Increasing the resiliency of our communities in the face of disaster is
crucial. Religious communities have tremendous potential to contribute to
this. Here are guidelines on how to do that more effectively, alongside data
on how to facilitate the integration of these contributions with the formal
disaster-response system.
Features
- Relevant to current global events including 9/11,
the recent Asian tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina
- Dr. Harold G. Koenig is recognized worldwide as a
leading authority on integrating research on religion
and health
- Examines the contributions made by religious
communities and organizations in responding to
human catastrophe including terrorism and natural
disasters
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