September 6, 2005

Somatic Experiencing® (SE) Community:

FHE responds to Katrina The FHE-Trauma Outreach Program (TOP) is committed to provide assistance to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, as we did in response to the December, 2004 tsunami in SE Asia. Many individuals within the SE community have contacted FHE wanting to assist the survivors either monetarily or by offering their personal assistance by volunteering for TOP.We are deeply moved by the compassion that has been generated by our community to this national tragedy.

What is TOP?
TOP was established by the FHE Board to create central coordination for all trauma outreach efforts provided through the Foundation and within the SE community. The mission of TOP is to respond to disasters and to work with underserved populations affected by catastrophic trauma. This category of traumatic experience includes, but is not limited to the following high consequence events: war, acts of terrorism, large-scale accidents, natural disasters, and other extreme events or situations that affect the social fabric of communities, cities, geographical regions, and nations.

The Trauma Outreach Program provides on-site outreach teams whose function is to build the capacity to work with trauma within local communities. Pursuant to this end, we offer short education programs and clinical support focused on symptoms of acute and chronic posttraumatic stress disorder using Somatic Experiencing® as the primary method of clinical intervention. TOP’s educational curricula and clinical research are designed to contribute to the knowledge base in the field of trauma healing as well to as enable local communities to better serve their citizens. All TOP projects are carefully evaluated to insure that the education and treatment provided is culturally-sensitive as well as effective.

Working with Katrina Survivors
The photos and personal stories coming from the South are so compelling that many in theSE community want us to make an immediate response. HOWEVER, we are not a first response organization. Currently the primary emphasis for all first response agencies involved is on rescue, recovery, and environmental safety, as well as the reestablishment of personal and community safety. People must have basic needs of food, water, sanitation,shelter, and safety provided first before treatment can be effective.

The survivors are being widely dispersed throughout the country and TOP is developing an overall response plan including scope of response, location(s), skills required, and numbers of volunteers needed. In addition to proper planning, the key to successful outreach projects is good access to affected populations. We are in the process of establishing links to key agencies and community members to help us ensure we have the access to those in need for our response to Katrina.

SE will be needed in the future as this tragedy evolves. Research clearly shows several factors that place survivors at greater risk for developing stress reactions and increase their risk for negative outcomes. These factors which are pertinent to survivors of Katrina include: lack of emotional and social support; presence of other stressors such as fatigue,hunger, fear, uncertainty, loss, dislocation, and other psychologically stressful experiences;difficulties at the scene; lack of information about the nature and reasons for the event; and lack of, or interference with, self-determination and self-management.

What you can do
In order to meet these future needs, we are asking for your assistance in the following ways:

1. Monetary assistance: Please send donations directly to the Foundation for Human Enrichment, 7102 La Vista Place, Suite 200, Niwot, CO 80503. Make your check payable to: Foundation for Human Enrichment and on the subject line of the check, please write “Hurricane Katrina.” Donations will be put directly into the Trauma Outreach Program fund to provide assistance with Hurricane Katrina and build a reserve for future response to disasters across the world. The contributions are tax deductible and assist us in raising additional funds through foundation grants and private donors. Any amount you can contribute is appreciated.
   
   
2. Information assistance: If you have agency or personal contacts in the impacted areas or in areas that have been set up as survivor centers that may want to support our efforts, please email TOP@traumahealing.com or Dr. Geneie Everett, TOP Administrator at nepenthe@cybermesa.com.
   
   
3. Volunteer assistance: We have a list of volunteers from the Tsunami we will be contacting. If you are interested in volunteering for TOP and have not filled out an application, please send your inquiries by email to TOP@traumahealing.com .
   
   
4. Communication assistance: For all questions and inquires regarding the Trauma Outreach Program, email directly to TOP@traumahealing.com and please do not call the FHE office.
   
   
5. We will keep you updated about our efforts either by email or you can also check the www.traumahealing.com web site for more up-to-date information.