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Kentucky Community Crisis Response Team Providing Critical Incident Stress Management to First Responders and Communities

Disaster Response

​​​​​​​​Supporting Local Communities Through:

  • Team Training;
  • Community Planning, Exercises & Online Credentialing;
  • Community Training

The Kentucky Community Crisis Response Team (KCCRT) created under KRS Chapter 36 and recognized as the lead disaster behavioral health agency by the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID - state mental health authority), Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KyEM) and the American Red Cross (ARC), has the primary responsibility to provide disaster behavioral health services for the Commonwealth.

KCCRT provides assessments, crisis intervention, service collaboration, and system development following disasters. KCCRT, as the state lead disaster mental health agency, coordinates services, administers FEMA Crisis Counseling grants when necessary following a Presidential Declaration, in collaboration with local and regional mental health providers.

Primary ESF-8 Agencies​

Kentucky Community Crisis Response Board (KCCRT), Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) and Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) are designated as “Primary” ESF-8 Agencies responsible for coordinating state-level support upon activation of the Department for Public Health’s Department Operations Center and/or th​e state’s Emergency Operations Center.

The ESF 8 Annex is a functional annex that defines how Kentucky’s ESF 8 Agencies will coordinate public health and medical related preparedness, response, and recovery activities for any incident/event that will require state-level coordination.

The ESF 8 - Public Health and Medical Services provides the mechanism for agencies within Kentucky to effectively coordinate preparedness, response, and recovery activities for any all-hazards incident requiring public health and medical needs. The Disaster Behavioral Health Services (DBHS) Support Plan provides detailed guidance on how state-level ESF 8 agencies will coordinate support to local jurisdictions for disaster behavioral health services during an all-hazards incident.