Children and Emergencies Briefing
Mother Nature and Children – A Recipe for DisasterGuidance and Resources for Addressing the Unique Needs of Children
OBJECTIVES
Workshop Objectives
• Share recommendations from the National Commission on Children and Disasters
• Explore successful implementation activities at the child, school and community levels
• Discuss maximizing limited resources
• Present various ways to connect with child-focused stakeholders in the community
• Provide information on best practices and planning tools
Children in Emergencies
Framing the Topic
• In the U.S., children under 18 represent 25% of the total population
• Estimated 27.8% or 7,149,062 children under 18 years old in Texas
• Estimated 24% or 1.5 million of children under 18 are in poverty in Texas
Where are children on a “normal” day?
• School
• Child Care
• Out of school program – Before/after school, camp
• At home
• Informal care
• Foster care
• Juvenile justice facility
Those most vulnerable
• Vulnerable children and families are most likely to end up in mass care shelters
• Few resources and social networks
• Low socioeconomic status (SES) makes children and families more vulnerable to a variety of disaster consequences
Children’s Unique Needs in Emergencies
Children are not just “little adults.” They have unique areas of need that must be addressed to ensure their safety and well-being:
Physical needs for protection vary greatly by age group
At higher risk for long-term mental health consequences
Dependent on guardians for protection, food, clothing, shelter, learning/development
National Progress for Children
Independent: Authorized by Congress in 2007 under Federal law; not tied to any agency
Bipartisan: 10 members appointed by President, Senate and House leaders
Diverse: Expertise drawn from several disciplines: pediatrics, state and local emergency management, non-governmental organizations, and state elected office
National Commission on Children and Disasters (NCCD)
NCCD Final Reportwww.childrenanddisasters.acf.hhs.gov
NCCD: Overarching Findings
Children = 25% of the population, but…
Placed into broad categories: “at-risk” “vulnerable” or “special needs” populations; annexes
Unique needs unaddressed or misunderstood
Homeland Security Grant $$: training, exercising, equipment directed to child-focused projects limited
Recovery $$: rebuilding infrastructure, not lives
NCCD Core Planning Principles
Integrate children across all phases of emergency management
Designate a lead agency and individual for coordinating children’s needs
Build on existing capabilities and requirements
Adopt “whole community” approach: Federal, state, local, non-profit, private sector, parents, children
Encourage relationship building and cooperation prior to incidents
Require accountability: institute goals and monitor progress
monitoring measures
Mass Care - Recommendations
National Standards and Indicators for Children in Mass Care Emergency Shelters Children sheltered with families or caregivers Designate area for families Temporary respite care for children
Shelter Supply List for Infants and Toddlers Identifies basic supplies necessary to sustain and
support 10 infants and children <4 years of age for a 24 hour period
Formula, baby food, diapers, feeding bottles, cribs
Child Physical Health and Trauma - Recommendations
Access to/distribution of pediatric MCM
Build pediatric medical capabilities of response teams through specific training, supplies, personnel
Provide pediatric disaster clinical training for health care professionals who may treat children during an emergency
Ensure hospital Emergency Departments provide effective care for children
Expedite recovery of pediatric health and mental health care delivery systems in disaster-affected areas
NCCD: Mental and Behavioral Health
Integrate mental and behavioral health for children into emergency plans
Enhance pediatric disaster mental and behavioral health training for professionals and paraprofessionals
Support long-term disaster-related mental health treatment for children
• National Commission on Children and Disasters– Publications Includes Appendix E:
“Supplies for Infants and Toddlers in Mass Care Shelters and Emergency Congregate Care Facilities”
– Recommendations to Governors
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)– Children’s Working Group– CPG 101 Version 2.0– 2012 HSGP Supplemental Guidance on
Children
National Progress for Children
National Progress for Children and the Child Care Community
• Save the Children 4th Annual Report– Focuses on the ability of schools and child care facilities to protect the
67 million kids in their care on any given day across the nation– Only 17 states meet our four minimal requirements
• Save the Children / NACCRRA– Protecting Children in Child Care During Emergencies: Recommended
State and National Regulatory and Accreditation Standards for Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers
• Administration for Children and Families– Guidance to assist Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead
Agencies in developing, exercising, and maintaining written child care emergency preparedness and response plans pursuant to submission of the CCDF Plan.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency– Public Assistance Fact Sheet 9580.107 identifies child care services
eligible under Category B, Emergency Protective Measures– Emergency Sheltering Costs, Temporary Relocation, Repair, Restoration
or Replacement
National Standards & Indicators for Mass Care
Standards and Indicators for Disaster Shelter Care for Children (ARC) Temporary Respite Care for Children
Shelter Guidance (STC) Low Cost and No Cost Guidance to mitigate risks
Counting Children Family dormitory areas Private breastfeeding area for women
Mega Shelter Planning Guide (IAVM and ARC)
Additional National Change
The Assessment Process:
Strengths, Gaps and Opportunities
State Assessment Example
• Assess the needs of children across all four phases of the emergency management
• Evaluate policies, programs, and regulations• Identify gaps and lessons learned• Compile a comprehensive report for the
governor– Gap analysis – process, findings, critical risks– Low Cost / No-Cost Opportunities
State Assessment Example
Based on NCCD Report and Best Practice Guidance
–Three Working Groups• Pediatric Medical Group• Human Services• Emergency Management
–65 Planning gaps
–Prioritized top 3 and identified cost
Pediatric Medical CareWorking Group Stakeholders
• State Level, Hospital and Pre-hospital
• Leadership group: – Dept. of Public Health– Children’s Hospitals– American Academy of Pediatrics
• Focus group– Local emergency management– University School of Public Health– Emergency Medical Services
Pediatric Medical CareWorking Group Efforts
• State, regional and local plans for pediatric surge (including transport)
• Inventory of pediatric health care specialists• Stockpile with pediatric counter measures• Children included in MA emergency
operations base plans• Mapping and inventory of pediatric resources
in the state. GIS location of children• Critical care Transport: altered standards of
care
PRE-HOSPITAL
• Followed EMSC requirements – most were in place
• Gaps: – off-line medical direction– No pediatric designation– Pediatric education not required– MCI plan to include children– EMS pediatric triage– EMS tracking and reunification
capabilities– Regional pediatric coordinator
HOSPITALS
• Major gap- State capabilities for pediatric medical care for disasters as well as day to day care unknown
• Areas to explore: pediatric ICU/floor beds; hospital pediatric subspecialty capabilities; tracking and reunification
Pediatric Medical Care(4 of 36)
1. Mechanism to request and share medical records for reunification. Cost - No Cost
2. Mandating pediatrics education for pre-hospital providers. Cost – Minimal Cost
3. Conduct analysis of pediatric capabilities for each hospital. Cost - Minimal cost
4. Regional Pediatric Coordinator. Cost - Considerable Cost
Human Services(3 of 11)
1. Basic pediatric disaster mental and behavioral healthtraining required for health care professionals, school personnel, child care, and early education providers.
2. No mechanisms exist currently to share records among federal, state or local partners.
3. Require specific activities for identifying children in the event of a disaster, and to require that foster homes have an emergency plan.
Emergency Management (3 of 19)
1. Identify all local child-serving environments. No Cost
2. Provide training, guidance and Exercise opportunities at the local level, with focus on child-serving environments (including shelters). Moderate cost
3.Hire Child Services Coordinator Considerable Cost
PREPAREDNESS – RESPONSE - RECOVERY: Changing the Way Communities
Protect Children in Disasters
San Antonio: Targeted RRC
Who: San Antonio Office of Emergency Management
What: Children in Emergencies Appendix to Annex C (Mass Care)
How: Created a Children in Emergencies Working Group comprised of partners from the public, private, and non-governmental sectors to strategize and implement best practices during sheltering operations in the San Antonio urban area.
Captain Frank XiquesCaptain Eric Jones
Lt Jim ReidyLt Dean Watson
Engineer Brandon Murray
Pre-planning
Site Acquisition
Shelter Operations
Shelter Branch Team begins with meetings to identify lessons learned and objectives for current season Usually begin this planning in February Here we discuss and develop plans to implement
in our shelters that will allow us to meet the needs of the children entrusted to us
Push-Packs are developed, inventoried and placed at-the-ready in our warehousing space Extensive inventory lists are readied for immediate
ordering Local child-care agencies and stakeholders groups
are consulted or invited to assist us in our planning and preparations
Here you must consider the potential needs of the children that will be in your shelters Ability to provide security in areas that children
will occupy Adequate indoor and outdoor recreation areas
available on site Ability to provide “quiet” areas that will be
needed to help deal with the stresses that accompany an evacuation of one’s home
Easy access for families and children between service areas
Considerations: Separate play and respite areas
Indoor and outdoor Family shower time scheduled Child-friendly entertainment provided Adequate, and easily accessible, restrooms for
children and families to use with an abundance of hand washing stations
Pre-identifying, and early ordering, of anticipated equipment and supplies that will be needed Key here is to forecast and stay ahead of the
curve on what will be needed
Supplies needed for infants, toddlers and children
Assembled into our push-packs our warehouse space
Immediately available upon opening of any shelter
Considerations: Staffing of child-friendly play and respite areas
These areas must be monitored while in use Develop a plan early to address the medical,
psychological, emotional and dental needs of the children Coordinate closely with partnering agencies and
local Health Department to ensure this is provided for
Anticipate and plan for different dietary needs of infants, toddlers and children Again, coordinate closely with partnering
agencies to ensure this
Considerations: Safety and
security Work closely with
partnering agencies and local law enforcement to ensure access control of shelter is in place and monitoring of children-occupied areas is ongoing
Considerations: Professional, certified and credentialed formal
child-care program As the population of the shelter grows, so will
your need for extended and diverse child-care equipment, supplies and services This may exceed your local capabilities
Anticipate the need for this early Utilize ordering process (STAR – State of Texas
Assistance Request) and identify your needs Be very specific as to what it is you want to
accomplish and how many children are under your care
Save the Children Organization www.savethechildren.org
CHILDREN IN DISASTERS GUIDANCE – FEMA www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/2012/
fy12_hsgp_children.pdf
Policy Change and PracticeState of Connecticut
Advisory Council and Policy Change
• Moved CT from an “F” to an “A”
Governor of Connecticut Signing Emergency Preparedness Bill(SB 983) Championed by Save the Children
Child Care Preparedness Training
• Trained more than 350 providers (7,000 children)
Translating National Standards and Best Practices to Reality at the Local Level.
Building Community CapacityThe Gulf Coast
Fostering life long partnerships – Beginning, Building, Sustaining.
Community Meeting – New Orleans
• Initiated dialogue and strengthened networks around child-focused issues
TA & Trainings - Coastal Mississippi
• Partnerships with the American Red Cross leverages resources and expands reach
Training and Implementation Houston, Texas
Resilient and Ready Workshop• More than 1,000 children in 2011
Child-Friendly Space Training•Training with Texas State Guard
Impacting Children, Caregivers and Communities through training and implementations.
Response
Child-Friendly Spaces - AmeriCorps NCCC in American Samoa
Journey of Hope – SC New Zealand
What You Can Do
Suggested Child-Focused Checklist
Emergency Planning and Training Include needs of children across emergency
planning, training and exercises
Designate individual as children’s needs coordinator
Provide staff with briefings on children’s unique needs and how they can protect and support children in their role
Steps Forward
Make it a priority to improve emergency planning/response to meet the needs of children
Review and share guiding documents – CIE Resource List
Contact Save the Children to set up briefings or trainings for your organization’s personnel and volunteers
Get Children Involved!
Questions? Comments?
Save the Childrenwww.savethechildren.org
1-800-728-3843
Kate Dischino, C.E.M.Deputy Director of Texas Programs
203-551-0945, [email protected]
Thank you!Thank you!