Behavioral health professionals are at the frontline of disaster response—and their preparedness can determine community resilience. This course offers essential lessons drawn from some of the most impactful public health emergencies in U.S. history, from Hurricane Katrina to the Zika virus outbreak.
Through the lens of real-world fieldwork and strategic response, clinicians will gain practical insights into disaster behavioral health that can enhance their ability to serve communities in crisis and recovery.
Captain Michael King, PhD, MSW, LCSW, brings more than 17 years of experience at the intersection of public and behavioral health. As a Regional Administrator for SAMHSA and a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, he has led national mental health response teams following major disasters and infectious disease outbreaks. His firsthand experience equips him to share critical behavioral health strategies that clinicians can apply across a range of emergency situations.
In this course, CAPT King takes a grounded and pragmatic approach, weaving together data, personal deployment experiences, and public health lessons to help clinicians understand how to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. His method emphasizes collaboration, resilience-building, and the importance of culturally competent outreach to vulnerable populations.
Topics covered in this course include the behavioral health implications of historic public health crises (e.g., Hurricane Katrina, the Flint Water Crisis, and the Zika virus outbreak), the phases of emergency management, risk communication, resilience strategies for both responders and communities, and trusted behavioral health resources for disaster recovery. CAPT King also highlights how the behavioral health lessons learned from past disasters apply to current challenges, such as pandemic recovery and vaccine hesitancy.
Key Takeaways:
Historical context and impact: Understand how past disasters reshaped emergency behavioral health practices in the U.S.
Behavioral health response strategies: Learn what interventions proved effective during major outbreaks and crises.
Preparation for post-pandemic recovery: Access trusted tools and resources for supporting both the public and frontline responders.
Why this course?
Real-world expertise: Learn directly from a national leader who has led field responses to major public health emergencies.
Trusted continuing education: Offered by Telehealth Certification Institute, a leading provider of CE for behavioral health professionals.
Relevant and practical content: Gain strategies that clinicians can immediately apply when working with clients affected by disaster or crisis.
Learning Objectives:
List important past disasters and disease outbreaks with pandemic potential that changed how the United States handles emergency behavioral health response.
Describe Behavioral Health impacts and interventions implemented during past disasters/outbreaks.
Identify Behavioral Health resources to help the public and responders prepare for post-pandemic recovery.
This self-study course is designed to give behavioral health clinicians the perspective and tools they need to support individuals and communities during times of crisis. It’s a vital resource for those looking to build their competence in disaster response and long-term recovery efforts.
Add this course to your cart to develop your skills, boost your confidence, and enhance your impact as a behavioral health professional.
This is a non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 1 hour of video instruction and a post-test.
Availability: From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.
Who Should Attend: This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.
Teaching Methods: This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.
How to Attend: Instructions for attending and completing a course can be found here.
Captain Michael King, PhD, MSW, LCSW
Captain Michael King is a social worker and epidemiologist who has worked at the intersection of behavioral and public health for over 17 years. He is Regional Administrator for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) covering HHS Region IV which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Prior to joining SAMHSA in 2019, he supported State and Federal public health capacity at the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an instructor and Field Supervisor for post-doctoral fellows enrolled in the Epidemic Intelligence Service. CAPT King previously served for over 10 years on the National Asthma Surveillance Team in the National Center for Environmental Health where his interests focused on chronic disease surveillance, environmental exposure and hazard assessment, and disaster mental health. As a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, CAPT King deploys routinely following disasters and has had the privilege to lead one of five national Mental Health Response teams (Team 5) that provide crisis counseling and technical assistance to medically-underserved populations, with a focus on emergency public health response.
Disclosure Statement: The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.
Credit Hours: This course consists of 1 continuing education hour of credit.
Counselors:
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Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.
Marriage and Family Therapists: Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations. You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.
Social Workers:
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Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1 clinical continuing education credit.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.
Addiction Professionals:
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This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.
Psychologists:
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Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.
Art Therapists: Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.
Other Professionals: This course qualifies for 60 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course.
