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Helping parents find assistance paying for child careThe Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Contact Directory on the NCCIC Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccdf will help you find the child care assistance office in the State where you live. Each State makes its own policies and procedures about how it administers the Federally funded CCDF. CCDF funds can help you pay for center-based care, family child care, care provided by religious organizations, and sometimes care by family, friends, and neighbors. A child care resource and referral agency (CCR&R) in the area where parents now live may have information about child care programs that have special funding options or sliding fee scales. Contact Child Care Aware, a free, Federally funded service, at http://www.childcareaware.org or at 800-424-2246 to find a local CCR&R. Child Care Aware's brochures are available on the Web:
Early Head Start serves infants and toddlers, and Head Start serves children ages 3-5. In general, Head Start serves children whose family income is at or below the Federal Poverty Level. To find a Early Head Start program in the parents' area, visit the EHS Program Locator Web site at http://www.ehsnrc.org/programs/index.htm. To find a Head Start program in the parents' area, use the online Head Start Program Search Tool at http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices. Federal information and resources for evacueesU.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is responsible for providing nutrition assistance for disaster-affected areas requiring a Federal response. Contact information for the USDA headquarters and regional offices is available on the Web at http://www.fns.usda.gov/disasters/response/contacts.htm. Effects of natural disasters on childrenNatural disasters can leave children of all ages feeling confused and scared. Whether children have personally experienced trauma or have merely seen the event on television or heard it discussed by adults, they struggle to make sense of what they are seeing and hearing. It is important for parents, caregivers, and teachers to help children make sense of what is happening. Adults also need to be informed and ready to help if reactions to stress are observed in children's behavior. The following organizations have information for adults working with children who have experienced traumatic events.
Support for emotional needs of volunteersIt is important for volunteers to remember to take care of themselves and to monitor their own emotions during difficult times, in order to be a better resource for family members. A toll-free hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) has been established for people in crisis by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Callers will be connected to a network of local crisis counseling centers across the country to receive counseling and mental health referrals from trained staff. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Training and support for relief workers and volunteersThe National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has compiled training and information resources on emergency response for first responders and volunteers.
Community Emergency Response Teams educate people about disaster preparedness and train people in basic disaster response skills.
The American Red Cross offers Web-based training for those who want to learn more about how to help in the community in the event of a disaster.
Resources for volunteers working with displaced evacuees who speak languages other than English [Recursos para voluntarios trabajando con familias y niños desplazados que hablan otros idiomas fuera del inglés]Cruz Roja Americana |
