About Louisiana Spirit
The Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling Program (commonly referred to as Louisiana Spirit) is operated during a presidentially declared disaster under the oversight of the Louisiana Department of Health, Office of Behavioral Health (LDH/OBH). The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and administrated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Our Mission
The mission of the CCP is to assist individuals and communities in recovering from the effects of disasters through the provision of free community-based outreach and psycho-educational services.
Our Purpose
Louisiana Spirit helps people recover and rebuild their lives after a disaster at no cost to the survivor. Through short-term interventions, crisis counselors provide public education about disaster reactions and coping strategies; crisis counseling; and stress management services to assist disaster survivors and their families, local government staff, rescuers, disaster first responders, business owners, religious communities, and other special populations.
Louisiana Spirit has supported the residents of Louisiana throughout disasters such as the floods of 2016, the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, and 2005 Hurricane Katrina and Rita along with other hurricanes that have impacted our state. Louisiana Spirit has become an important model for response to a variety of disastrous events. It symbolizes Louisiana’s ability to recover and the process of moving forward from a health-based perspective.
Services Provided
- Individual and group crisis counseling
- Basic supportive or educational contact
- Community networking
- Assessments, referrals, and resources
- Development and distribution of educational materials
- Media and public service announcements
Louisiana Spirit CCP Benefits
Louisiana Spirit supports short-term interventions with the following goals:
- Helping understand the current situations and reactions.
- Reducing stress and providing emotional support.
- Promoting self-reliance by teaching tools of goal setting, resilience building, and coping.
Psycho-Educational Presentations Offered
- Managing Stress and Anxiety
- Grief and Loss
- Teacher Burnout
- Building Resiliency
- Dealing with Compassion Fatigue and Stress
- Managing Aggressive Feelings
- Work Life Balance General
- Work Life Balance Working Remotely
- Complex Trauma
- Helping Families, Children & Adolescents Cope with Trauma
Louisiana Spirit Youth Program Curriculums
Healing After Trauma Skills (HATS)
https://cpeip.fsu.edu/storm/StormresourcesFiles/resourceFile_59.pdf
Manual only
Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (S.S.E.T.S.)
Complete 4 hour training
COVID-19 CCP Response
The novel coronavirus is a contagious, respiratory virus that first appeared outside the U.S. in December 2019, with Louisiana seeing its first case in March 2020. Since then, cases of COVID-19 have expanded throughout the entire state and has impacted everyone’s daily life.
In response to COVID-19, Louisiana Spirit has adapted to the need for new and innovative approaches to crisis counseling and community-based outreach services. Traditionally, services are provided in a face-to-face setting. Louisiana Spirit follows state mandated recommendations in our service delivery. Crisis counseling services are offered virtually and in safe, physically distanced settings. Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling services are offered statewide and in partnership with local behavioral health providers. Locally, CCP services are administered by Metropolitan Human Services District, Capital Area Human Services District, Central Louisiana Human Services District, Northwest Louisiana Human Services District, and Florida Parishes Human Services Authority. State level services are offered in South Central and Northeast Louisiana.
Hurricane Laura CCP Response
Hurricane Laura made landfall on August 27, 2020 as a Category 4 hurricane near Cameron, Louisiana. This storm made history by being the fifth strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. and was the first storm in recent memory to maintain hurricane strength as it traveled through the state. Of Louisiana’s 64 parishes, 21 parishes received a major disaster declaration due to the destruction caused by Hurricane Laura. Crisis counseling services are provided in the 21 parishes referenced in the map below.
Louisiana Spirit provides crisis counseling and public education services to survivors affected by hurricanes and to public service workers such as first responders, healthcare workers, industry workers, educators, and nursing home administrators. These services promote resilience, empowerment, and recovery.
Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling Program
- Website: ldh.la.gov/LouisianaSpirit
- Email: LouisianaSpiritInfo@la.gov
Office of Behavioral Health’s Keep Calm Line
- 1-866-310-7977
Crisis Text Line
- Text REACHOUT to 741741
LDH Coronavirus Information
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
- 1-800-273-8255
- En Español: 1-888-628-9454
- Deaf/hard of hearing: 1-800-799-4889 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx
Hurricane Laura Housing Information
Helfpul Information
- Louisiana Spirit Flyer
- Hurricane Laura Resources
- Mindfulness Exercises
- Louisiana Spirit Crisis Counseling Program- March 2016 Floods
- Louisiana Spirit Contacts
- Louisiana Spirit Brochure
- Disaster Related Tips and Strategies
- Links
Previous Disasters
- Louisiana's Unsung Heroes
- Behavioral Health Oil Spill Surveillance Project
- Oil Spill Recovery Resources Site
- Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Specific Contact Information and Resources
- Specialized Crisis Counseling Services
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