The master's degree program in Counseling and the bachelor's degree program in Social Work have implemented an inter-professional model to increase the training and utilization of a trauma-informed interdisciplinary team approach to behavioral health care and resiliency skills for child and adolescent mental health in vulnerable and medically underserved communities. The Counseling and Social Work Trainees focus on trauma care and behavioral health, specifically referred to as the PRIME Project, or Partnerships for Resilience Interventions and Mental Health Effectiveness. This program trains and places candidates in the Counseling and Social Work Programs in behavioral health internships. The program also takes the unique approach for advocacy work with the families for services that benefit the support system and resiliency of children, adolescents, and transitioning youth post-disaster. Goals of the PRIME Program are to: a) alleviate the shortage of qualified Behavioral Health Counselors and Social Workers in the state of Texas who specialize in providing services to children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth who are at-risk of developing or who have a recognized behavioral health disorder; and b) create partnerships with a focus on a interdisciplinary team approach to trauma-care at experiential field sites such as behavioral healthcare facilities, schools, crisis centers, health departments, judicial systems, first responders, faith-based agencies, and primary care facilities.
The term "Dementia" is used to describe many brain diseases that cause impairment of memory. Alzheimer's disease is a type of dementia that destroys brain cells, causing memory loss. Alzheimer's disease starts slowly and develops gradually over several years. The rate of moving from mild cognitive impairment to severe Alzheimer's disease varies significantly, depending on the person and risk factors. Recently studies show that disaster may increase the risk of dementia development in communities. Extraordinary traumatic events causing posttraumatic stress disorder induce a range of negative cognitive outcomes. Stress due to disasters may lead to a burst of cortisol and stress hormones, potentially increasing memory decline and the risk of dementia. Many scholars have examined the rate of dementia in affected areas; however, to our knowledge, no research has investigated the correlation between potential risk factors after disasters and the progression of the cognitive decline among affected adults specifically older adults. Disaster aftermath is a critical time to identify any cognitive decline and to slow down the progression of cognitive decline through therapeutic intervention. In order to promote resilience in the aftermath of a disaster, it is necessary to know the factors that cause people to stress in these situations.