When disasters occur, whether natural, medical, or caused by humans, being prepared at all levels is crucial. Preparing for disasters involves creating plans, establishing a process to manage during a disaster, and enhancing critical infrastructure before a disaster. Being able to respond quickly and efficiently to disasters is essential for children, families, and child welfare professionals.
Disasters tend to hit the most vulnerable the hardest, and families from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds are at heightened risk for experiencing the adverse effects of disasters. Vulnerable families are more likely to live in areas exposed to repeated disasters and less likely to have access to the resources and supports needed to recover. Child welfare agencies should embed equitable practices into their disaster management strategies to address these disparate outcomes.
After disasters, child welfare agencies should continue to manage, capture lessons learned, rebuild, and continuously improve their systems.
Use these resources to assist in creating equitable disaster preparedness plans, learn about responding to emergencies quickly and effectively to protect children and families, and help them recover.
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What Is Child Welfare? A Guide for Disaster Preparedness and Response Professionals
Find an overview of basic child welfare services and learn how disaster preparedness and response and child welfare professionals can support one another's disaster preparedness efforts. The publication also offers additional tools and resources.
Working With Children, Youth, and Families on Disaster Preparedness
Learn about the importance of disaster planning in child welfare and explore how caseworkers, with the help of their supervisors, can prepare themselves and the children, youth, and families on their caseloads for disasters or emergencies.
Embedding Equity Into Disaster Preparedness Efforts in Child Welfare
Find information on how disasters disproportionately impact and widen disparities for marginalized groups. This factsheet presents child welfare strategies disaster preparedness relief efforts for reducing disparities for children and families of div ...Read More
Disaster Preparedness
Explore a collection of resources that can help child welfare agencies effectively prepare and strategize for and respond to natural and manmade disasters and supporting children and families of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery
Learn about the importance of helping communities and individuals find resources to minimize negative outcomes following a disaster, which is critical as many individuals may experience an exacerbation of their mental health or substance concerns.
Coping With Disasters and Strengthening Systems
Find a collection of resources to assist child welfare agency leaders, managers, disaster planning and response teams to keep children safe and provide uninterrupted services under emergency circumstances.