A Community Resource Fair held Wednesday, September 9, at Minden Medical Center offered more than the typical collection of informational booths, with participating organizations taking time to present their services and provide practical training directly to attendees.
The event, hosted by Webster Parish Veterans Safety Net along with community partners, drew a strong turnout, with many of those attending representing law enforcement, emergency response, healthcare, and other first responder organizations.
Vendors and resource providers presented information on their programs, services, and products, giving attendees an opportunity to learn how the resources could be used in situations they may encounter while serving the community.
Topics included opioid overdose response, trauma-informed care, emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities, and recognizing and assisting veterans experiencing a crisis.
A representative of the Louisiana Department of Health provided Narcan awareness and administration training. Narcan, also known as naloxone, can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, and the presentation addressed how to recognize a possible overdose and properly administer the medication.
Javelin Hardy, LMSW, presented an overview of trauma care and trauma-informed support. The presentation addressed identifying and assisting people experiencing trauma, common reactions and triggers, healthy coping skills, self-care, Adverse Childhood Experiences, PTSD, critical-incident debriefing, and trauma-informed agency protocols.
Emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities was also addressed, with information designed to help first responders, caregivers, organizations, and individuals prepare for emergencies and better understand needs that may arise before, during, and after a disaster.
Representatives from Overton Brooks VA Medical Center presented an overview of SAVE Training, which focuses on recognizing warning signs that a veteran may be experiencing a crisis and responding appropriately.
The presentations gave attendees an opportunity not only to learn what resources are available locally and regionally, but also to hear directly from the organizations providing them and ask questions about how those resources can be put into practice.
“Events like this provide our community with information and resources that can make a real difference,” said Gary Seegers, president of Webster Parish Veterans Safety Net. “Our goal is to bring valuable resources together in one location and give people practical knowledge they can use to help themselves, their families, coworkers and neighbors.”
The free fair was held in the Minden Medical Center cafeteria and was open to the public as well as healthcare providers, caregivers, first responders, and community organizations.