NCJ Number
238568
Editor(s)
Douglas Paton Ph.D.,
John M. Violanti Ph.D.
Date Published
2011
Length
204 pages
Annotation
This book focuses on how agencies and organizations can develop their capacity to respond effectively to unpredictable events such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina, as well as how to broaden perspectives on the populations that need to be included in such efforts.
Abstract
The types of events that are the concern of this book are capable of causing physical, social, or psychological harm to those affected by them, e.g., natural disasters, terrorism attacks, and mass transportation accidents. Although emergency and helping professions and organizations cannot influence the frequency, timing, nature, duration, or location of such events, they can make choices that influence the outcomes by ensuring that these organizations and their personnel have the available resources and capability of responding appropriately to various types of hazardous and critical events. The first five chapters provide insights into the lives, experiences, and outcomes of populations not usually considered as representative of high-risk groups or professions, such as families and businesses. The second part of the book contains a chapter that presents a case study of how to manage the critical incident of a police officer-involved shooting and its aftermath from the perspective of the officer. This is followed by a chapter that addresses the processes and competencies that contribute to resilience through a qualitative analysis of risk and resilience in law enforcement and elite military personnel. In following up on this theme, a chapter discusses how actions and policies by leaders can create a culture and context that increase mental strength, health, and performance of personnel that facilitates the handling of stress-related problems. Another chapter discusses the development of an ecological perspective that incorporates personal, organizational, and family characteristics and dynamics in a comprehensive model of risk and resilience. The final chapter discusses the development of effective stress risk-management programs. Chapter references and a subject index