Hello! I am Celeste Peart, the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health's (DSAMH) Behavioral and Emotional Support Team (DE BEST) Program Manager at the University of Delaware (UD). DE BEST is a team of the RespondDE MRC unit (which is managed by Public Health, EMSPS Department).
I achieved degrees in Human Services and Drug and Alcohol Counseling at Delaware Technical Community College. At Wilmington University, I earned my Bachelor's in Behavioral Science and a Certificate in Trauma Informed Approach. I am currently a Psychology graduate student with Southern New Hampshire University, concentrating on Industrial/Organization Psychology. Throughout my studies, I've centered my course work on cultural competency and trauma informed principles, focusing studies around crisis, response and trauma. It is my interest in trauma and disaster response that brought me to UD.
After volunteering with Delaware's Medical Reserve Corps (DMRC, now called RespondDE MRC) in 2016, I was hired by UD as an Administrative Assistant for both DMRC and Delaware's Self-Management Program. DMRC was part of Delaware's emergency response to disaster, and it was my mission to solidify a mental health disaster response team for the state of Delaware. It wasn't long before I became involved with coordination of a mental health response within Delaware. The first DMRC behavioral health response was for a 2017 Department of Corrections incident, and I worked with a team of professionals for coordination and worked in the field with volunteers to provide Psychological First Aid throughout the 5 week response. The incident proved pivotal as it led to DSAMH's commitment to the development of DE BEST and my assignment as DE BEST's leader.
I enjoy talking to partners, volunteers, responders, and community members and am always on the look out for how I and DE BEST volunteers can help our community. My door is always open if you have questions, suggestions or concerns. Please call, text or email me any time.
I appreciate you and all you do. I look forward to getting to know you and working with you!
~Celeste
