(BIVN) – A Community Day of Healing at the Kea‘au Shipman Park on Sunday, March 10, 2019 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to promote “community health and wellness for those affected by the Kīlauea eruption.”

The event is hosted by CARE Hawai‘i, Inc., a nonprofit organization contracted by the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Adult Mental Health Division to provide free crisis counseling services to individuals, families, and groups most affected by the destructive volcanic events of 2018.

According to a health department media release promoting the event:

The Kīlauea volcanic eruption and its aftermath still weigh heavily on the minds of many Hawai‘i Island residents, especially those who live in the Leilani Estates area who must continue to adjust to the changed landscape of their community. They must also contend with the emotional and psychological effects of such a major disaster. From May 3 to Aug. 4, 2018, the Kīlauea volcanic eruption on Hawai‘i Island destroyed 716 homes, forced the evacuation of 2,000 residents, isolated 1,600 acres of farmland, and caused damage in the lower Puna region estimated at more than $800 million.

The Department of Health awarded $949,137 to CARE Hawai‘i, Inc., for Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program, or CCP, for Hawai‘i Island for the period Sept. 21, 2018 to June 29, 2019, officials say. The funding, made available after the President’s disaster declaration, came from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The goals of the CCP are to: 1) help disaster survivors understand their current situation and reactions, 2) reduce stress and provide emotional support, 3) promote the use or development of coping strategies, and 4) connect survivors to community resources, support systems, and disaster relief services.

According to the media release:

Members from CARE Hawai‘i, Inc.’s Team AHA, “Breath of Life,” will provide crisis counseling services, at the event. In addition to the Department of Health, CARE Hawaii, Inc. partnered with local businesses, agencies, and individuals to provide free food, live music by local musicians, haircuts, massages, smoking cessation services, and informational booths. There will also be a talk story session with survivors who will share their experiences during and after the eruption.