 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
 |
 |
|
|||||||||
|
ACF Home | ACF Services | Working with ACF | ACF Policy/Planning | About ACF | ACF News | ACF Search | |||||||||
 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
ACF Home | ACF Services | Working with ACF | ACF Policy/Planning | About ACF | ACF News | ACF Search | |||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
| Helping Children Cope with Natural Disasters |
Natural disasters such as hurricanes can leave children of all ages feeling confused and scared. Whether children have personally experienced trauma or have merely seen the event on television or heard it discussed by adults, they struggle to make sense of what they are seeing and hearing. It is important for parents, caregivers, and teachers to help children make sense of what is happening. Adults also need to be informed and ready to help if reactions to stress are observed in children’s behavior. The following organizations have information for adults working with children who have experienced traumatic events associated with natural disasters.
CDC provides information about general strategies for promoting mental health and resilience that have been developed by various organizations based on experiences in prior disasters. While each individual is affected differently by a disaster, certain groups may share common experiences. CDC has developed materials that cover the following topics:
These resources are available on the Web at www.bt.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/#children.
FEMA’s primary mission is to reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. The following resources contain information about safety and recovering from disasters:
The mission of NCPTSD is to advance the clinical care and social welfare of America’s veterans through research, education, and training in the science, diagnosis, and treatment of PTSD and stress-related disorders. The following resources are available to those assisting victims of disaster:
This resource is available on the Web at www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/manuals/nc_manual_psyfirstaid.html.
The mission of AAP is to attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In an effort to assist those working with children who have experienced a natural disaster, AAP has compiled the following resource:
American Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting the immediate needs of those who have experienced an emergency or natural disaster. The following resource can assist those working with children who have experienced a disaster:
Child Care Aware assists parents in locating quality child care and child care resources in their community. Child Care Aware offers resources useful in planning for and recovering from natural disasters. The following resources contain information about assisting children who have experienced a disaster:
Both resources are available on the Web at www.childcareaware.org/en/resources/preparing_for_disaster/.
It is important for child care providers and parents to remember to take care of themselves during difficult times. Caregivers are better equipped to care for children if they manage their own physical and mental well-being. The following resources offer support to those recovering from trauma:
Updated September 2007
| The document is for informational purposes only. No official endorsement of any practice, publication, program, or individual by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, the Child Care Bureau, or the National Child Care Information Center is intended or is to be inferred. For additional information on this or related topics, please contact the National Child Care Information Center at (800) 616-2242 or info@nccic.org. |
