National Commission on Children and Disasters. 2010 Report to the ...

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The lack of clear priorities and sufficient resources for children and families in times of disaster primarily is related to the lack of a national strategy. In the May 2010 Progress Report on Children and Disasters, the <strong>Commission</strong>, while recognizing marginal pockets of improvement, called for the President to develop, in coordination with Federal and non- Federal stakeholders, a <strong>National</strong> Strategy for Children and Disasters. 7 This strategy would provide a platform for the development of short- and long-term goals, objectives, and capabilities to more cohesively address gaps in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery for children. The <strong>Commission</strong> stands by its previous recommendation that the Administration must provide leadership and a charge of urgency and innovation to move the Nation forward in addressing the critical needs of children in disasters. Children’s Unique Needs in Disasters Children are not simply small adults. Throughout this report, the <strong>Commission</strong> notes children’s unique vulnerabilities in disasters that must be addressed in disaster management activities and policies. For example: • Children may experience long-lasting effects such as academic failure, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, bereavement, and other behavioral problems such as delinquency and substance abuse. • Children are more susceptible to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats and require different medications, dosages, and delivery systems than adults. • During disasters, young children may not be able escape danger, identify themselves, and make critical decisions. • Children are dependent on adults for care, shelter, transportation, and protection from predators. • Children are often away from parents, in the care of schools, child care providers, Head Start or other child congregate care environments, which must be prepared to ensure children’s safety. • Children must be expeditiously reunified with their legal guardians if separated from them during a disaster. • Children in disaster shelters require age-appropriate supplies such as diapers, cribs, baby formula, and food. 7 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> on Children and Disasters, “Progress Report on Children and Disasters: U.S. Agencies Take Modest Steps to Achieve <strong>Commission</strong> Goals,” (Washington, DC: NCCD, May 11, 2010), 2, http://www.childrenanddisasters.acf.hhs.gov/20100511_NCCD_Progress_Report_FINAL.pdf. 20 NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND DISASTERS: 2010 REPORT
A major impediment to the prioritization of children lies in the inclusion of children as a group within population categories labeled “at-risk,” “vulnerable,” or “special needs.” The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizes children as “at-risk” along with 10 other populations. 8 While well intentioned, the advent of these categories has resulted in diluting, rather than concentrating, a specific and necessary focus on children, and has led to plans in which children are addressed in annexes, if at all. The <strong>Commission</strong> recommends that the Executive Branch, Congress, and non-Federal partners reconsider laws and policies, such as the 2006 Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, 9 that group children into broad “at-risk” population categories. Children typically have unique needs in all types of emergencies and disasters, and many of these needs can be anticipated; thus, disaster management agencies should place a specific and sustained focus on children in their daily and disaster response activities. For example, when children were disproportionately affected by the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized the need to treat children as a distinct part of the general population and in response created a Children’s Health Team with representation in the CDC’s Emergency Operations Center. The team was instrumental in bringing attention to the needs of children and the necessity for offering national-level guidance to families, schools, and child care providers concerning personal precautions, the H1N1 vaccine, and school closures. Organizations with similar experiences during their disaster relief efforts, such as the American Red Cross, agree that children need to be considered as a distinct population in disaster planning, rather than as part of a larger “atrisk” or “special needs” categories. 10 The <strong>Commission</strong> recommended in its Interim Report that the White House assume “a central leadership and coordinating role” to advise the President, the Executive Branch, and non-Federal partners on the need to make children a disaster planning imperative and to foster integration of children across national security and domestic policy-making priorities. 11 The <strong>Commission</strong> recommends that the President implement this recommendation, with a corollary that the President also create a permanent focal point of responsibility and accountability for coordinating children’s disaster needs across the Federal Government and with non-Federal officials. At the regional level, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) should establish Children’s Integration Specialists, who can coordinate with other Federal regional staff, such as the HHS Administration for Children and Families, and with state and local partners. Similarly, State and local governments could assign the duty of intra- and inter-agency coordination of children’s disaster needs to the immediate office of the executive, for example led by a cabinet member from the public health office, social services department, or emergency preparedness agency. 8 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, “At Risk Individuals, Behavioral Health, and Human Services Coordination,” http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/abc/Pages/default.aspx. 9 Public Law (P.L.) 109-417 (2006). 10 Trevor Riggen, American Red Cross, Testimony of Trevor Riggen before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, Washington, DC, October 20, 2009, 2, http://transportation.house.gov/Media/file/Economic%20Development/20091020/Riggen%20Testimony.pdf. 11 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> on Children and Disasters, Interim Report, (Washington, DC: NCCD, October 14, 2009), 3, http://www.childrenanddisasters.acf.hhs.gov/20091014_508IR_partII.pdf. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND DISASTERS: 2010 REPORT 21
Page 1 and 2: NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND
Page 3 and 4: ii The 2010 Report to the President
Page 5 and 6: Each new disaster presents distinct
Page 8 and 9: Contents Abbreviations.............
Page 10 and 11: EMSC Emergency Medical Services for
Page 12 and 13: Background The National</st
Page 14 and 15: Recommendation 1.2: The President s
Page 16 and 17: - Include pediatric expertise on th
Page 18 and 19: Recommendation 4.3: HHS should deve
Page 20 and 21: 8. Child Welfare and Juvenile Justi
Page 22 and 23: 11. Evacuation Recommendation 11.1:
Page 25: 1. Disaster Management and Recovery
Page 29 and 30: children are a core consideration i
Page 31 and 32: Recommendation 1.2: The President s
Page 33 and 34: Recommendation 1.3: DHS/FEMA should
Page 35 and 36: The Commission rec
Page 37 and 38: 2. Mental Health Recommendation 2.1
Page 39 and 40: 2. Mental Health Recommendation 2.1
Page 41 and 42: The Commission rec
Page 43 and 44: Recommendation 2.4: DHS/FEMA and SA
Page 45 and 46: urden on affected States and commun
Page 47 and 48: types of [enhanced] crisis counseli
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Page 54 and 55: children are largely unavailable or
Page 56 and 57: children may take several years, th
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NDMS and DoD are not the only entit
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5. Disaster Case Management Recomme
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5. Disaster Case Management Recomme
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Not all disasters will involve disa
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80 NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN
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The Commission rec
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In response to the Commissi
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Finally, the Commission</st
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eport, the chronic shortage of pedi
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expertise. 272 While most school di
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Recommendation 7.2: Congress and ED
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Recommendation 7.3: Ensure that sch
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Another mechanism through which the
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sources. 303 Without comprehensive
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. Respond to new child welfare case
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Recommendation 8.2: Ensure that Sta
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The Commission sup
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Toward the goal of ensuring that ju
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evisions to the standards were need
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10. Housing Recommendation 10.1: Pr
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10. Housing Recommendation 10.1: Pr
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corresponding tasks related to the
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Finally, the Commission</st
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evacuees. 382 States also have the
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The Commission sup
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Recommendation 11.2: Disaster plans
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planning for the evacuation of scho
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Appendix A. Study Approach The <str
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Appendix B: Index to Recommendation
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• Include bereavement support and
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Relevant Federal Agencies President
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• DHS/FEMA should clarify the tra
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● Relevant Federal Agencies Presi
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• Congress should authorize DHS/F
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Appendix C: Model Executive Order o
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2. Children and Disasters Advisory
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• Support disaster plans, trainin
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• When children exhibit signs of
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Appendix F. Supplies for Infants an
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Non-Perishable Supplies & Equipment
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Supplemental Information Descriptio
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Appendix G. Subcommittee Members an
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Richard Muth, National</str
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Also, the Commission</stron
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Children’s Research Center^ Churc
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Planning and Learning Technologies,
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Honorable Sheila Leslie Appointed t
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Honorable Mark K. Shriver, MPA Chai
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NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND
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National Commission on Children and Disasters. 2010 Report to the ...

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