The Center for Community Healing After Tragedy - CHAT
Established in response to the Virginia Tech tragedy, CHAT was founded in the days after April 16, 2007 to coordinate the vast community-based disaster response efforts that would be needed in the months and years to come.
CHAT leaders brought together representatives from the major groups of highly impacted New River Valley residents, to cooperatively plan for and implement the clinical services, education, and mental health outreach that are critical to community recovery and healing.
This effort has included Disaster Spiritual Care Training for clergy who wish to serve as disaster chaplains and congregations who wish to help with disaster response and recovery. Those interested in becoming involved in disaster response should contact the Community Disaster Response Coalition: www.nrvcdrc.org or (540) 449-2675.
CHAT includes the Mental Health Association of the New River Valley, New River Valley Community Services, and the New River Valley Community Disaster Response Coalition.
These programs were made possible by United Way of Montgomery, Radford & Floyd.
