The process of developing and implementing emergency response plans for States, Tribes, and child welfare agencies is complex. The resources on these pages are intended to help States and jurisdictions in developing comprehensive disaster preparedness plans and responding to emergencies quickly and effectively to protect children and families. The resources are organized by preparedness (before a disaster), response (the immediate aftermath), and recovery (the longer term reconstruction/healing phase).
Coping With Disasters and Strengthening Systems: A Framework for Child Welfare Agencies (PDF - 1032 KB)
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (2007)
Helps managers consider strategies to cope with disasters and highlights how taking these steps can improve systems for serving children and families.
Disaster Preparedness Resource Guide for Child Welfare Agencies (PDF - 492 KB)
Annie E. Casey Foundation (2009)
Offers step-by-step recommendations, best practices, and a compilation of resources to assist child welfare agencies with disaster preparedness. The guide's recommendations are meant to be adaptable for use by agencies in States and Tribes across the United States.
Disaster Preparedness for Kids in the USA
Save the Children (2012)
Provides an interactive map noting the state of preparedness in four areas for all 50 States and the District of Columbia: evacuation/relocation, family-child reunification, children with special needs, and multiple disasters.
Emergency Preparedness and Response
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Provides information to increase the nation's ability to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies.
Keeping Children Safe in Sandy's Wake
Healthychildren.org, American Academy of Pediatrics
Offers tips and outlines steps for parents to take to protect children from the environmental hazards in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Resources and Tools: Emergency Planning Guide for Child-Serving Organizations
Promising Practices Network, RAND Corporation (2011)
Presents a web section with a guide to help child-serving organizations prepare for emergencies.
National Commission on Children and Disasters 2010 Report to the President and Congress (PDF - 1,150 KB)
National Commission Children and Disasters (2010)
Discusses disaster preparedness, response, and recovery; provides recommendations for planning and establishing a national resource center on children and disasters; and reports on the coordination of resources and services, administrative actions, policies, regulations, and needed legislative changes.
Ten Years After 9/11 America Is Unprepared to Protect Children: A National Report Card on Protecting Children During Disasters (PDF - 1,843 KB)
Save the Children (2011)
Provides a report card that rates all States on their preparedness for taking care of children during and after disasters. States are rated on plans for evacuation/relocation, family-child reunification, children with special needs, and K-12 multiple disasters. State successes in preparedness are detailed.
SAMHSA Disaster Technical Assistance Center
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Supports SAMHSA's efforts to prepare States, Territories, and local entities to deliver an effective mental health and substance abuse (behavioral health) response during disasters.
The Role of First Responders in Child Maltreatment Cases: Disaster and Nondisaster Situations
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau
Cage, Richard.;Salus, Marsha K.
This manual, written for first-response professionals, such as emergency medical technicians, child protective services caseworkers, and law enforcement officers, discusses the various types and signs of child maltreatment they may encounter in their work, what they and their agencies can do to respond to suspected child maltreatment in emergencies and disasters, and how to prepare for such situations.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Disasters and Emergencies
Provides information and resources on natural and manmade disasters and traumatic events for families and individuals; business; practitioners, clinicians, and responders; and Federal, State, local, Tribal, and Territorial emergency planners.