
In support of National Preparedness Month―sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security [1]―to honor its Ready Campaign [2], the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is offering disaster preparedness resources to enhance our nation's capacity to prepare for and respond to terrorism and disasters.
Disasters and terrorism can have devastating physical and psychological effects on children and families. Children and teenagers are at risk for stress reactions including sleep and eating disturbances, irritability, anger, headaches, and stomachaches. They may also have behavior problems at school, lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, avoid friends, or engage in dangerous or risky behaviors.
To significantly improve the emotional well-being of children and families after a disaster, many strategies can be put in place beforehand. "Being prepared for terrorism and disasters reduces anxiety, and promotes confidence and resilience in children and families," says Alan Steinberg, PhD, associate director of the National Center for Child Traumatic Stress at UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute.
The following materials are designed to help children, families, educators, and communities become more educated and prepared in the event of a disaster.


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Building Community Resilience for Children and Families [3] (2007) (PDF)
[4]
A guide for mental health and medical professionals with information about building community resilience, and about helping communities improve their capacity to respond effectively to disasters and acts of terrorism. Includes a wealth of information, suggestions, and resources for businesses, cultural and faith-based groups and organizations, and first responders; and related information on health care, media, mental health, public health, and school and personal childcare settings.
Coping in Hard Times—Fact Sheet Series
Series discusses challenging financial circumstances and economic hardships that can negatively affect youth, families, and communities. Offers practical ways to address the challenges during economic hardships by improving a sense of safety, calming, self- and community efficacy, connectedness, and hope.
PFA Mobile™ App [10]
A free download app designed to assist responders who provide psychological first aid (PFA) as part of an organized response effort to adults, families, and children. The app provides responders with:
Available from iTunes, the app will work on any mobile Apple device (iPhone, IPad, and iPod touch).
The PFA Mobile App is a joint project by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Center for PTSD [11] in partnership with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network [12], the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration [13], the Department of Defense's National Center for Telehealth & Technology [14] (T2), and the VA’s Patient Care Services [15].
Psychological First Aid Field Operations Guide (2nd Edition) [16] [17]
An evidence-informed modular approach for helping survivors of trauma. Designed to reduce the initial distress caused by traumatic events, and to foster short- and long-term adaptive functioning and coping skills. Foreign language versions (Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and Norwegian) of the guide are available as well as adaptations for community religious professionals and for the Medical Reserve Corps.
Psychological First Aid Online [18] [18]
A free six-hour interactive course in NCTSN's Learning Center for Child and Adolescent Trauma. Participants can play the role of a provider in a postdisaster scenario. Appropriate for both those new to disaster response and seasoned professionals. Features activities, video demonstrations, and tips from trauma experts and survivors. This project was funded by the SAMHSA [13] (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration), the National Center for PTSD [11], and the National Association of County and City Health Officials [19].
Responding to Crisis in the Aftermath of Disasters [20]
Sixteen educational vignettes demonstrating intervention strategies with children and adults in the aftermath of a terrorist or disaster event. Produced in partnership with the National Center for PTSD.
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American Red Cross [21]
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center [26]
"Information and resources about emergency management to help schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education learn more about developing, implementing, and evaluating crisis plans."
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ASPCA [27]
Guidance on measures to keep your pets safe in the event of a disaster or emergency. Includes a sticker that will let people know that pets are inside your home; and valuable information on how to arrange a safe haven for your pets in the event of evacuation, emergency supplies and traveling kits, how to choose “designated caregivers,” and evacuation preparation.
Disaster Assistance [28]
Information on finding disaster assistance available from 17 federal agencies, currently offering 70+ programs.
Disaster Distress Helpline [29]
A free, confidential, multilingual crisis support service for U.S. residents in psychological distress due to natural disasters or human-caused disasters. Available 24/7 via telephone (1-800-985-5990) and SMS (text TalkWithUs to 66746).
FEMA ( [2]Federal Emergency Management Agency)
NCTSN
Sesame Street [45]
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FEMA [47]
Resources, practical information, disaster maps, applications for assistance, links to related news & media archives, and much more. "FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards."
National Biodefense Science Board (NBSB)
[48]
National Commission on Children and Disasters [50]
Findings, recommendations, and resources on: mental health, child physical health, and trauma, emergency medical services and pediatric transport, disaster case management, child care and early education, elementary and secondary education, child welfare and juvenile justice, sheltering, housing, evacuation and reunification, state and local government, and relevant activities in emergency management.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services [51]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [53]
Information on myriad emergencies and disasters, with preparedness, response, and planning advice and resources for individuals, businesses, healthcare facilities, states, local communities, and the nation; along with legal information and more.
FEMA
[54]
SAMHSA [55]
Links:
[1] http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
[2] http://www.ready.gov/
[3] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/BuildingCommunity_FINAL_02-12-07.pdf&nid=278
[4] https://docstore.fedex.com/nctsn/PreCatalogAction.do
[5] /sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/coping_for_community_orgs.pdf&nid=278
[6] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/default/files/assets/images/SmallblueOrder_Icon.gif
[7] /sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/coping_for_parents_final.pdf&nid=278
[8] /sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/copingschoolpersonnel_final.pdf&nid=278
[9] /sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/Coping_in_Hard_Times_For_Youth.pdf&nid=278
[10] http://www.nctsn.org/content/pfa-mobile
[11] http://www.ptsd.va.gov/
[12] http://www.nctsn.org/
[13] http://www.samhsa.gov/
[14] http://t2health.org/
[15] http://www.patientcare.va.gov/
[16] http://www.nctsnet.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters/psychological-first-aid
[17] /sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=http://www.castlepress.net/nctsn/index.html&nid=278
[18] http://learn.nctsn.org/course/category.php?id=11
[19] http://www.naccho.org/
[20] http://learn.nctsn.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=3130
[21] http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/school
[22] http://www.redcross.org/disaster/masters/
[23] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/Challenger_Newsletter_Checklist-final_sw_rvsd.pdf&nid=278
[24] http://www.nctsnet.org/resources/audiences/school-personnel/intro-to-school-safety
[25] http://www.nctsnet.org/resources/audiences/school-personnel/the-3r-school-crises-and-disasters
[26] http://rems.ed.gov/
[27] http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness/
[28] http://www.disasterassistance.gov/
[29] http://disasterdistress.samhsa.gov
[30] http://www.ready.gov/flatstanley%20
[31] http://ready.gov
[32] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/9-11%20Card%20Material%20-%20NRC-sw.pdf&nid=278
[33] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/FamilyPrepPlan_arm.pdf&nid=278
[34] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/emergency_korean_0.pdf&nid=278
[35] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/9-11Walet_Rus.pdf&nid=278
[36] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/9-11Walet_spanish.pdf&nid=278
[37] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/9-11Walet_viet.pdf&nid=278
[38] http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters
[39] http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/terrorism%20
[40] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/revised-folded4.pdf&nid=278
[41] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/Walletcard_%20armenian.pdf&nid=278
[42] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/WalletCard_Rus.pdf&nid=278
[43] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/WalletCard_spanish.pdf&nid=278
[44] http://www.nctsnet.org/sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/WalletCard_viet.pdf&nid=278
[45] http://www.sesamestreet.org/
[46] http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/toolkits/ready
[47] http://www.fema.gov
[48] http://www.phe.gov/preparedness/legal/boards/nbsb/pages/default.aspx
[49] /sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/legal/boards/nbsb/meetings/Documents/dmhreport1010.pdf&nid=278
[50] /sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=http://cybercemetery.unt.edu/archive/nccd/20110427002908/http:/www.childrenanddisasters.acf.hhs.gov/index.html&nid=278
[51] http://www.hhs.gov/
[52] /sites/all/modules/pubdlcnt/pubdlcnt.php?file=http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/abc/Documents/dbh-conops.pdf&nid=278
[53] http://emergency.cdc.gov/planning/
[54] http://www.fema.gov/
[55] http://www.samhsa.gov
[56] http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/