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Returning Home After Disaster Relief Work


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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Interviewer: We are so glad you are back and want to take this opportunity to learn more about what you have been doing the past 2 weeks.

  1. a. Can you briefly describe what you have been doing? b. What else? (Continue probing for details.)
     
  2. a. How were things different at the disaster site from what you normally do here? b. What else was different? (Continue probing for details.)
     
  3. What was the hardest part of the disaster work for you?
     
  4. a. What did you and your team accomplish that you are proudest of? b. How did you do that?
     
  5. What is your best memory or moment from your experience?
     
  6. What else happened that is important for me to know?
     
  7. What suggestions do you have about how to improve future responses or missions to disaster operations?
     
  8. How will you be able to apply your experiences and what you learned in disaster work to your work here?
     
  9. a. Has your disaster work given you ideas about what we could do better here? b. How can we best use what you learned from your disaster work experience here?
     
  10. Is there anything I can do to help you make this happen?
     
  11. How would you like to share your experience with the rest of the division/branch/office? (e.g., some people may want to do this informally—one-on-one; some might want to write an e-mail; some might want to talk at their next staff meeting)

Interviewer: Thanks so much for talking with me. I am impressed by your:_____________________
We both know that the return to work after an assignment like the one you’ve had can provoke a host of reactions. I want you to know that my door is always open. If it is okay with you, I will check back with you to see how things are going in another week or so.

Development by Cynthia K. Hansen, Ph.D.

NMH05-0216

SAMHSA