Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Gatlin Receives Training

Patsy Gatlin, a native of Okolona, was among the 65 people receiving crisis response training recently from the Washington, D.C.-based National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA).

Gatlin attended a two-day meeting at the State Police Headquarters in Little Rock to learn how to most effectively respond to emotional needs of victims after a natural or man-made tragedy.

"I was grateful that my office was able to work with NOVA to make this education available," Attorney General Winston Bryant said. "I believe that this training can help citizens to be better prepared to help their neighbors in times of tragedy."

NOVA sent a crisis response team to assist survivors on the March tornadoes, but Bryant hopes that by providing proper training to local communities, long-term emotional care will be immediately available to survivors of tragic events.

Gatlin works in Bryant's office with the Crime Victims Reparations Program and is experienced at serving the needs of victims.

Gatlin is the daughter-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Gatlin of Gurdon. She is the niece of Esther Norton of Okolona.