Breadcrumb
- Federal Resources
Federal Resources
Recovery: After a Flood
Children react differently to a flood and its aftermath depending on their age, developmental level, and prior experiences. Some will respond by withdrawing, while others will have angry outbursts. Still others will become agitated or irritable. Parents should attempt to remain sensitive to each child's reactions.
SAMHSA Helps Communities Across the Nation Enhance Behavioral Health Care Capacity
SAMHSA and the USDA are partnering with universities, schools, and communities to build local capacity to gather and share behavioral health information. The result of this partnership, the Community Early Warning and Monitoring System, will upgrade systems of tracking behavioral health trends and enhance systems for responding to acute needs, such as those related to emergencies.
SAMHSA Behavioral Health Disaster Response Mobile App
The Behavioral Health Disaster Response Mobile App provides behavioral health professionals with evidence-based mental health and substance use information, tools, and resources that can be used to aid disaster survivors. First responders can use the app to find treatment facilities and information about hotlines and critical contacts, access resources including information on psychological first aid, and share information easily with colleagues and survivors.
Teacher Guidelines for Helping Children after Hurricanes
Children's reactions to a hurricane and its aftermath are strongly influenced by how their parents, teachers, and other caregivers cope during and after the storm. They often turn to these adults for information, comfort, and help. There are many reactions to hurricanes and other frightening events that are common among children. These generally diminish with time, but knowing that these reactions are likely—and normal—can help parents and teachers to be prepared. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed guidelines for teachers.
Tips for talking to children and youth after traumatic events: A guide for parents and educators
This fact sheet helps teachers recognize and address problems in children and teens affected by trauma after an act of violence. It describes signs of stress reactions that are common in young trauma survivors at different ages and offers tips on how to help.
Trinka and Sam Children's Booklet
From the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Trinka and Sam: The Rainy Windy Day is a story developed to help young children and their families begin to talk about feelings and worries they may have after they have experienced a hurricane. In the story, Trinka and Sam, two small mice, become scared and worried when it begins to rain and storm. The rain and wind remind them of the hurricane they experienced before. The story describes some of their reactions and talks about how their parents help them to express their feelings and feel safer. In the back of the booklet, there is a parent guide that suggests ways that parents can use the story with their children. The booklet can also be viewed in Spanish, Trinka y Juan en un día de mucho viento y lluvia .
The Dialogue: Environmental Disasters and Resiliency
This issue of The Dialogue (PDF, 18 pages) focuses on environmental disasters and resiliency. Articles address the effects from the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and integrating community organizations into resilience trainings, the looming threat of climate change, and culturally competent support and resilience training for 911 telecommunicators.
Back to School–Be Prepared!
As “back to school” time gets underway, this blog post provides tips for parents for creating an emergency plan and helping their children be prepared for potential emergencies.
Public -Private Partnership Launches New AmeriCorps Program to Help Communities Build Resilience
CNCS, DOE, EPA, NOAA, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Cities of Service announced a new commitment to launch the Resilience AmeriCorps pilot program. Resilience AmeriCorps will help communities plan and implement efforts necessary to become more resilient to shocks and stresses, including extreme weather and other impacts of climate change. AmeriCorps VISTA members will serve in up to 12 communities in 2015-2016 to support the development of resilience strategies.
Preparedness for Special Needs Populations: A Toolkit for State and Local Planning and Response
Developed with support from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, this RAND toolkit guides state and local agencies in ensuring their emergency preparedness plans account for special needs populations, such as people with limited English proficiency, children, and people with disabilities.
Resource: Social Media and Disaster Response
This website features resources related to social media’s role in emergency management, including a free online course, informational videos, and a literature review of current research and tools.
Resource: Mass Violence and Behavioral Health
This bulletin (PDF, 18 pages), developed by SAMHSA’s Disaster Technical Assistance Center, describes how mass violence affects the behavioral health of adult, adolescent, and child survivors or witnesses of a mass violence incident. It illustrates the phases of response experienced by survivors, provides information on immediate and long-term interventions, and addresses the effects of media exposure following a mass violence incident. Public health, behavioral health, and emergency management professionals can use this resource to improve disaster behavioral health preparedness plans.
Slide Deck and Webcast: Disaster Anniversaries
These resources contain practical guidance for helping survivors cope with disaster anniversaries and promote healing and resilience within disaster-affected communities.
Disaster Anniversary Training
These training materials help prepare disaster recovery programs to support communities through disaster anniversaries.