May 2007Vol. 8, No. 4Helping Agencies Cope With Disasters
The Federal Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006 requires States and Tribes to develop plans for responding to disasters. A new publication from the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) shows that making systemic reforms can enhance child welfare agencies' disaster preparedness while improving their overall systems for children and families. The publication builds on the experiences of State agency staff in providing relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Coping With Disasters and Strengthening Systems: A Framework for Child Welfare Agencies provides guidance in three areas:
- Creating a plan
- Implementing the plan when disaster strikes
- Rebuilding after the disaster by enhancing critical infrastructure
Real-life examples of plans and responses by child welfare agencies around the country are included.
Written by Mary O'Brien, Sarah Webster, and Angela Herrick, the publication is available on the NRCOI website:
http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/rcpdfs/copingwithdisasters.pdf (1.0 - MB)
Related Items- Child Welfare Information Gateway offers a section of resources for disaster preparation for professionals:
http://www.childwelfare.gov/management/disaster_preparedness/professionals.cfm - The specific needs of courts and legal systems affected by disasters are the focus of a new factsheet available from the National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues. Help in Child Welfare Legal and Judicial System Responses to Children and Families Affected by Disasters provides links to information on a range of issues that could impact the legal system, including emergency preparedness, obtaining legal advice, and accessing medical and mental health care for children and families displaced by disaster.
www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/center_on_children_and_the_law/resourcecenter/disasters.authcheckdam.pdf (58 KB)