About OVS Disaster Mental Health Preparedness Trainings

To help improve and streamline coordinated support efforts for survivors and their communities in the aftermath of a mass violence incident, the New York State Office of Victim Services (OVS) and the Global Center for AI in Mental Health at the University at Albany have partnered to offer Disaster Mental Health Preparedness Trainings (DMHPT) to victim service professionals from OVS-funded organizations.

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Trainings will take place in cohorts across New York State beginning in the Spring of 2026.

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Each training cohort will provide attendees without advanced mental health training the ability to learn to provide basic psychosocial support, such as Psychological First Aid, while also learning self-care skills that will enable them to handle their own professional stressors. Specific course topics will also focus on adapting to the needs of different victim populations, and on providing culturally competent care that takes into consideration the worldviews and lived experiences of those served.

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Target Audience

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Regional trainings will be split into four courses offerings: 

• Supervisor (supervisors, directors and leaders from organizations equipped to respond to a mass violence incident)

• Basic (newer victim advocates from organizations equipped to respond to a mass violence incident)

• Scenario (simulation exercise for trainees who successfully complete a supervisor or basic course)

• Refresher (follow-up for trainees who successfully complete a supervisor, basic, and/or scenario course)

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Training Schedule​​​​​