*Closing Plenary: The Power of Community and Connection in Disaster Behavioral Health

Abstract: After two full days of learning, meaningful conversations and opportunities to engage and innovate together, our closing plenary will anchor all of this in our symposium's theme. Reflecting on the shared perspectives of our presenters and the approaches to behavioral health in the field, Vibrant's AVP of National Crisis and Wellness Services, Dr. April Naturale and Crisis Emotional Care Team Program Director, Amy Carol Dominguez will guide the audience through an interactive question and answer session aimed at empowering us all to be even more effective in our everyday work.

Panelists

Amy Carol Dominguez

• Pronouns: she/her/hers
• Title: Program Director, Crisis Emotional Care Team
• Bio: Amy Carol Dominguez serves as the Program Director for the Crisis Emotional Care Team at Vibrant. She has been working in Disaster Mental Health since 2007. Amy’s international development career has taken her around the world to countries like Ethiopia, Liberia, Colombia, Argentina, Canada, and Mexico and she has coordinated international disaster mental health responses in Haiti, Nepal, Puerto Rico, and across the United States. She is a writer and speaker, focusing on best practices in volunteer engagement and leadership. Amy is actively involved in strategic program development for youth in Latin American countries and leads the Board of Directors for the Hands Offering Hope Foundation. She holds her Masters in Public Affairs from Indiana University and splits her time between Mexico and Connecticut with her husband, Adiel, and daughters Sofia and Lucia.

April Naturale

• Pronouns: she/her/hers
• Title: Assistant Vice President of National Programs
• Bio: Dr. Naturale is a traumatic stress specialist focused on response to disasters and mass violence. She has provided disaster and traumatic stress response training and consultation throughout the U.S. having led the NY mental health response to 9/11/01, the Boston Marathon bombing and responding to 12 of the last mass violence shooting events. Dr. Naturale also helped launch the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and the Disaster Distress Helpline. Internationally, she has trained Psychologists in the Ukraine Military Service, Humanitarian Aid workers for the European Union and helped launch the European Centre of Expertise for Victims of Terrorism. Currently, Dr. Naturale is Vibrant Emotional Health’s AVP for Crisis and Wellness at the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and was also recently appointed by the U.S. Attorney General’s team of subject matter experts to review the law enforcement response to the May 24, 2022, Uvalde, TX, Robb Elementary school shooting.