Publications and Digital Products

This Technical Assistance Publication (TAP), updated in 2021, provides guidance for behavioral health service and substance use disorder treatment programs wanting to develop or update a comprehensive, scalable, and flexible disaster plan. It addresses planning needs specific to programs that offer prevention services, outpatient or residential treatment, medically supervised withdrawal, and pharmacotherapy.

The guide provides public officials as well as others involved in disaster and emergency communications with information about effective communication, working with the media, using social media, and addressing errors and controlling rumors.

Outreach workers often work with older adults after disasters. This guide will help prepare staff for encounters with this population by describing common disaster reactions and providing tips and resources.

This series of four fact sheets emphasizes the importance of continuing a mother's treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) throughout pregnancy. The series includes information on OUD and pregnancy, OUD treatment, neonatal abstinence syndrome, and considerations to address before hospital discharge.

This toolkit arms disaster recovery workers with materials that aid in responding effectively to the general public during and after a disaster, and in dealing with workplace stress. The toolkit includes SAFE-T practice guidelines, and suicide prevention wallet cards. It also includes guides for parents, caregivers, teachers, and others. Access the Disaster Kit on your mobile phone by downloading the SAMHSA Disaster App.

This guide enhances cultural competence when serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. It covers regional differences, cultural customs, spirituality, communication styles, the role of veterans and older adults, and health disparities.

This guide aids crisis response workers in stress prevention and management before, during, and after a public health crisis. It describes the stress cycle and common stress reactions while offering tips to promote a positive workplace, and monitor and minimize stress.

This manual helps state and local mental health professionals create emergency preparedness plans for disasters. It highlights integrating health and mental health response and conducting epidemiological surveillance.

This manual gives background information, guiding principles, recommendations, and resources for developing culturally competent disaster mental health services. It includes suggestions for working with refugees and guidelines for using interpreters.

This guide offers resources for those working with children in the wake of disaster. It discusses theories of child development as applied to a youth experiencing the fear, anxiety, and trauma of disaster. The guide also offers practical suggestions, case studies, and a resource guide.