Translation strategies are critical for sharing research with public health practitioners. To disseminate our analyses of legal issues that arise relative to mental and behavioral health during emergencies, we created 10 brief translational tools for members of the public health workforce. In consultation with an interdisciplinary project advisory group (PAG), we identified each tool's topic and format. PAG members reviewed draft and final versions of the tools. We then worked with local health departments throughout the country to distribute the tools along with a brief survey to determine practitioners' perceived utility of the tools. Through survey responses, we learned that practitioners believed the tools provided information that would be useful during the planning, response, and recovery phases of an emergency. This article describes the creation of the PAG, the development of the tools, and lessons learned for those seeking to translate legal and ethical research findings for practitioner audiences.
References
1.
GreenoughPGLappiMDHsuEBFinkSHsiehYHVuA, Burden of disease and health status among Hurricane Katrina-displaced persons in shelters: A population-based cluster sample. Ann Emerg Med2008;51:426–32.
2.
NeriaYWickramaratnePOlfsonMGameroffMJPilowskyDJLantiguaR, Mental and physical health consequences of the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks in primary care: A longitudinal study. J Trauma Stress2013;26:45–55.
3.
TriccoACLillieESoobiahCPerrierLStrausSE, Impact of H1N1 on socially disadvantaged populations: Summary of a systematic review. Influenza Other Respir Viruses2013;7Suppl 2:54–8.
4.
HodgeJGRutkowLCorcoranAJ, A hidden epidemic: Assessing the legal environment underlying mental and behavioral health conditions in emergencies. St. Louis Univ J Health Law Policy2010;4:33–92.
5.
GoldmannEGaleaS.Mental health consequences of disasters. Annu Rev Public Health2014;35:169–83.
6.
VoelkerR.Memories of Katrina continue to hinder mental health recovery in New Orleans. JAMA2010;304:841–3.
7.
WeemsCF, Hurricane Katrina and the need for changes in the federal funding of disaster mental health. Am J Disaster Med2010;5:57–9.
8.
LambergL.Katrina's mental health impact lingers: Patients face shortages of facilities, clinicians. JAMA2008;300:1011–3.
9.
ParcesepeAMCabassaLJ, Public stigma of mental illness in the United States: A systematic literature review. Adm Policy Ment Health2013;40:384–99.
10.
StickneySYanoskyDBlackDRStickneyNL, Socio-demographic variables and perceptual moderators related to mental health stigma. J Ment Health2012;21:244–56.
11.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US). Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Centers (PERRCs) (updated 2011 Mar 22) [cited 2014 Feb 21]. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/phpr/science/erp_PERRCs.htm.
12.
HodgeJGRutkowLCorcoranAJ, Mental and behavioral health legal preparedness in major emergencies. Public Health Rep2010;125:759–62.
13.
RutkowLGableLLinksJM, Protecting the mental health of first responders: Legal and ethical considerations. J Law Med Ethics2011;39Suppl 1:56–9.
14.
RabinsPVKassNERutkowLVernickJSHodgeJG, Challenges for mental health services raised by disaster preparedness: Mapping the ethical and therapeutic terrain. Biosecur Bioterror2011;9:175–9.
15.
RutkowLVernickJSWissowLSKaufmannCNHodgeJG, Prescribing authority during emergencies: Challenges for mental health care providers. J Leg Med2011;32:249–60.
16.
HodgeJGRutkowLWhiteLC, Redefining the legal basis for mental health emergencies. Annals Health Law2012;21:163–74.
17.
RutkowLVernickJSMojtabaiRRodmanSOKaufmannCN, Legal challenges for substance abuse treatment during disasters. Psychiatr Serv2012;63:7–9.
18.
WissowLSRutkowLKassNERabinsPVVernickJSHodgeJG, Ethical issues raised in addressing the needs of people with serious mental disorders in complex emergencies. Disaster Med Public Health Prep2012;6:72–8.
19.
RutkowL.The role of law in addressing mental health-related aspects of disasters and promoting resilience. Int J Emerg Ment Health2012;14:134–40.
20.
VernickJSGakhMRutkowL.Emergency detention of persons with certain mental disorders during public health disasters: Legal and policy issues. Am J Disaster Med2012;7:295–302.
21.
RutkowLVernickJSWissowLSTungGJMarumFBarnettDJ, Legal issues affecting children with preexisting conditions during public health emergencies. Biosecur Bioterror2013;11:89–95.
22.
RutkowLVernickJSSpiraAPBarnettDJ, Using the law to promote the mental health of older adults during disasters. J Law Med Ethics2013;41Suppl 1:80–3.
23.
BotoseneanuAWuHWassermanJJacobsonPD, Achieving public health legal preparedness: How dissonant views on public health law threaten emergency preparedness and response. J Public Health (Oxf)2011;33:361–8.
