This year, Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis and the Florida Division of Emergency Management announced the appointment of Sara LaTorre Newhouse (BSW, 2010; MSW, 2011) as the state disaster recovery mental health coordinator.

“The ripple effect of a disaster goes beyond physical destruction to include grief and distress in a community and I am proud that Florida continues to. Lead on the mental well-being aspects of recovery,” said the First Lady.

Under the First Lady’s leadership, the position was created in 2019 and solely focused on helping communities obtain critical mental health services following a disaster. Since then, the role has provided mental health services and coordinated mental health resources in disasters, including the Naval Air Station Pensacola shooting, the Surfside Building collapse and the state’s COVID-19 response.

“The state disaster recovery mental health coordinator plays a vital role in the disaster process by ensuring help is available to survivors and first responders,” stated Kevin Guthrie, the Florida Division of Emergency Management director.

Florida’s First Lady also noted how Sara’s unique experience in victim advocacy and psychological aid prepared her for this role. Sara earned her MSW and BSW from the FSU College of Social Work and is Florida's licensed clinical social worker. Sara is a State of Florida victims services practitioner with more than a decade of experience in victim advocacy and crisis counseling.

“Disasters can have long-term mental health impacts on survivors and first responders. As the State Disaster Recovery Mental Health Coordinator, I’m committed to ensuring Floridians can access mental health support at every stage of the disaster life cycle by strengthening existing partnerships and identifying all available disaster mental health resources,” said Newhouse.   

In a previous position as a victim advocate for the Tallahassee Police Department, she provided crisis support and critical incident stress management to survivors and responders to disasters, including the 2018 Tallahassee Yoga shooting and workplace violence at Dyke Industries. Sara has served with the FSU Victim Advocate Program and completed her master’s field placement with Bay Pines Veterans Administration Healthcare Center.  

Sara has received numerous awards for her victim advocacy work. She received the Charles Morris Victim Advocate of the Year award from the Big Bend Victim Assistance Coalition and the Civilian Employee of the Year from the Tallahassee Police Department. She was awarded by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody the Distinguished Victim Services Award. She serves on the Florida Crisis Response Team and with the Big Bend Mental Health Coalition.