June 2008Vol. 9, No. 5NRC Resources for Disaster Preparedness

The Children's Bureau National Resource Centers (NRCs) offer numerous online resources as well as opportunities for training and technical assistance (T&TA) to States and jurisdictions in the area of disaster preparedness. States can contact their Regional Office for information about T&TA. Many of the online resources are listed below.

National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement

• Coping With Disasters and Strengthening Systems: A Framework for Child Welfare Agencies—A comprehensive series of checklists for child welfare agencies for use before, during, and after a disaster (http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/rcpdfs/disasterchecklists.pdf [61 - KB])
• Child Welfare Matters (Spring 2006)—Focuses on tips for child welfare agencies, real-life experiences, being prepared for disasters, and supporting workers during emergencies (http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/rcpdfs/cwmatters3.pdf [529 - KB])

NRC for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning

• Disaster Preparedness and Relief webpage—Links to other resources under such categories as agency preparedness, trauma and stress, help for children and families, help for agencies and staff, displaced children, and State and Federal websites (www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/disaster_relief.html)
• Disaster Planning: Funding Highlights and Continued Need—PowerPoint presentation from October 2007 that lists the T&TA efforts provided by the NRCs to States affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/downloads/ppt/DisasterPresentation.10.12.07.ppt)

NRC for Child Protective Services

• Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect in Disaster Emergency Shelters—A curriculum for training emergency shelter staff and volunteers that includes a trainer’s guide, PowerPoint presentation, and participant's handbook (http://www.nrccps.org/documents/2006/pdf/Shelter_Participant_Handboo_final_Mar_2007.pdf) (1.93 MB)

National Child Welfare Resource Center on Adoption

• Foster Care and Adoption Program in the Aftermath of Katrina and Rita: One State's Experience—PowerPoint that tells the vivid story of what happened when Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit and how Louisiana handled the care of children in out-of-home care [Editor's note: This link is no longer available].

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—Links to resources for courts and legal help for children and families (http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/publications/center_on_children_and_the_law/resourcecenter/disasters.authcheckdam.pdf  [59 - KB])
• Also see "Preparing Courts to Deal With Disasters" in this issue of Children's Bureau Express