Air Photo of Fallon, Nevada, and surrounding area
Fallon, Nevada
that provides assistance for families that have
a family member diagnosed with leukemia.
In March 2001, the Nevada Health Division
A 2-day needs assessment conference, Building
contacted the ATSDR community stress pro-
a Community Response Plan, was held July
gram for assistance with designing a community
1213, 2001, in Fallon. Those involved with
stress intervention strategy for Fallon, Nevada.
the conference included doctors and nurses,
Fallon is a small town in northwest Nevada that
social workers, educators for the school district,
is experiencing a documented cluster of child-
mental health staff members, mayor's office
hood leukemia cases. The cause of this cluster
representatives, clergy, community college staff,
is unknown.
police, media, Fallon Naval Air Station repre-
sentatives, and the business development asso-
In April 2001, a formal needs assessment plan-
ciation. The ATSDR team shared with the com-
ning committee led by the state of Nevada
munity some of the issues community members
began to meet. The committee was composed of
can expect to face while dealing with the cluster.
personnel from the Nevada Division of Mental
Health and Developmental Services, Nevada
One outcome of the needs assessment was the
Health Division, Substance Abuse and Mental
formation of the Community United Response
Health Services Administration (SAMSHA),
Team (CURT) in August 2001. CURT is an
Fallon Mental Health Clinic, ATSDR commu-
interagency committee in Fallon formed from
nity stress program, and Fallon Families First,
key leaders and agencies identified by the needs
which is a nonprofit charitable organization
assessment conference.
chapter 4 59
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