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Neighborhood Walk-Throughs
Phil Gruzalski, LCSW and Deb Moszur
DuPage County Health Department
Access and Crisis Center
440 South Finley Road
Lombard, Illinois 60148
(630)627-1700
Between one quarter and one third of all individuals involved in traumatic incidents ranging from
accidents to acts of violence and national disasters, develop PTSD and other forms of mental
illness. Early intervention provided close to where the trauma occurred and with an expectation
that the victim will recover is t he essence of the Neighborhood Walk-Through.
Most disaster victims do not seek crisis intervention, therefore, the victims must be sought out.
Through a collaborative effort with a variety of agencies, neighborhoods hardest hit can be
identified, and occupants systematically provide assessment and intervention. A team that goes
door-to-door needs to be clearly identified, prepared for the elements, sanctioned by the local
government, and cognizant of their own safety.
Crisis workers going door-to-door work in pairs within a larger team. Intervention typically
moves in stages from the factual, to the emotional and finally to the educational. Assessment
occurs concurrently with the intervention. information is left with every victim and data is
collected.
Examples of implementation of a Neighborhood Walk-Through will be drawn from two
deployments made last year by the DuPage County Health Department's Trauma and Disaster
Team. These were, the flood which affected parts of Northeastern Illinois last summer, and a
house explosion that occurred just prior to the holidays,
Preparedness is all important in implementing a successful Neighborhood-Walk-Through. Being
acquainted with the local emergency management personnel, training in disaster work (including
participation in field exercises) , and having equipment and material available prior to the disaster
are all necessary for a successful deployment when a disaster occurs.