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

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The <strong>Commission</strong> provided comments on the draft, based in part on its findings from the Iowa field visit and a field visit in Louisiana in January 2009. 26 Among other suggestions, the <strong>Commission</strong> cited a need for: 1) the appointment of a Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator who reports directly to the President; 2) an office residing in the White House or a Federal agency to help build recovery capacity across the country; 3) the incorporation of school and child care recovery as a major theme and element in the framework; and 4) leadership and operational guidance on how States and communities can reestablish forprofit and nonprofit health care practices. In addition, the <strong>Commission</strong> commented that the NDRF should recognize the need for Federal agencies to: proactively educate States about available resources; assist in holistic long-term needs assessments for children and families; reduce the burden of paperwork; create greater flexibility in grant guidance, reimbursements, and regulations; and help identify ways to address unmet needs in States and localities. In addition, the Working Group intends to develop an NDRF Annex with Recovery Support Functions (RSFs), 27 which are critical to specifying the roles and responsibilities of Federal and non-Federal partners and fostering new interagency collaborations. The <strong>Commission</strong> urges that the RSFs be developed in collaboration with State, tribal, and local jurisdictions, especially those with recent long-term recovery experiences and lessons learned. These jurisdictions will inform Federal agencies where there are significant gaps in funding, resources, and coordination that require new capabilities and capacities at the Federal level. Also, States and localities may have recovery planning models and best practices that could be shared nationally throughout this effort. For example, Iowa established a Rebuild Iowa Office to coordinate State-wide disaster recovery efforts and provide a centralized entity to address issues such as housing, public health and health care, infrastructure, economic and workforce development, education, and hazard mitigation. 28 The NDRF and a report to the President were scheduled to be delivered by June 1, 2010. At the time of this report’s publication, finalization of the documents is on hold due to Federal response and recovery efforts following the oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. The <strong>Commission</strong> urges the Administration and Congress to move swiftly to provide necessary additional authority and funding to undertake new recovery responsibilities, particularly as they relate to children and families. The <strong>Commission</strong> also recommends that the Administration and Congress ensure that disaster recovery assistance programs for children and families are more responsive to the needs identified by States and communities who will receive the assistance. 26 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> on Children and Disasters, “Comments: <strong>National</strong> Disaster Recovery Framework,” (Washington, DC: NCCD, February 26, 2010), 1-5, http://www.childrenanddisasters.acf.hhs.gov/20100224_NCCD_NDRFCommentsV04FINAL.pdf. 27 Similar to Emergency Support Functions in the NRF, RSFs would outline categories of governmental and nongovernmental recovery resources and provide strategic objectives for their use. 28 Rebuild Iowa Office, “Welcome to the Rebuild Iowa Office Web site,” http://www.rio.iowa.gov/. 26 NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND DISASTERS: 2010 REPORT
Recommendation 1.3: DHS/FEMA should ensure that information required for timely and effective delivery of recovery services to children and families is collected and shared with appropriate entities. - Government agencies and non-governmental organizations should collect information on children and families necessary to identify and support their immediate and longterm recovery needs. - DHS/FEMA should expand information sharing with appropriate government agencies and non-governmental organizations to enable the delivery of recovery services. - DHS/FEMA should pre-identify and credential additional local and out-of-State voluntary and non-governmental organizations and networks that provide disaster assistance to children and families. A major barrier to the timely and adequate provision of services for children and families after a disaster is the limited collection and sharing of information on disaster survivors among government agencies and organizations providing disaster relief and service delivery. The Children’s Health Fund, in its report on disaster case management following the Gulf Coast hurricanes, reported that FEMA’s inability to share client-level data, based upon regulations and policies derived from FEMA’s interpretation of the Privacy Act, 29 resulted in information being given to HHS for case management work that was insufficient for providing health and human services to individuals and families. 30 More recently, during its January 2010 Iowa field visit, the <strong>Commission</strong> learned of instances where insufficient or uncoordinated sharing of information impeded the delivery of services to children and families. For example, following the spring 2008 floods in Iowa, the administrator of the State-level Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) was denied basic information from FEMA, including the addresses of affected homes, despite CCP being a FEMA-funded program. According to the administrator, outreach efforts would have been much more efficient had they been given access to this information. 31 Iowa officials also indicated that the inability to share information between the various agencies and organizations providing case management services presented difficulties for both case managers and clients. 32 Information collection and sharing can: 1) provide more complete identification of the unique needs of children and families; 2) create a more accurate composite picture of the needs of children and families within the communities affected by the disaster; and 3) ensure that children and families are offered and provided continuous services during the entire recovery process. 29 P.L. 93-579; 5 U.S.C. § 552a (1974). 30 Children’s Health Fund, Reforming Disaster Case Management: <strong>National</strong> Lessons from Louisiana, (New York, NY: CHF, December 2009), 15, http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/sites/default/files/Disaster%20Case%20Management%20Roundtable%20Repor t%20and%20Recommendations_Finaldraft.pdf. 31 <strong>National</strong> <strong>Commission</strong> on Children and Disasters, “Minutes: Field Visit, Cedar Rapids, Iowa,” (Washington, DC: NCCD, 2010), 3-4, http://www.childrenanddisasters.acf.hhs.gov/20100106_IowaFieldVisit_MinutesV03FINAL.pdf. 32 Ibid., 20-21. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND DISASTERS: 2010 REPORT 27
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
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Page 25 and 26: 1. Disaster Management and Recovery
Page 27 and 28: A major impediment to the prioritiz
Page 29 and 30: children are a core consideration i
Page 31: Recommendation 1.2: The President s
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
Page 58 and 59: As highlighted in the Commi
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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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