The Emotional Impact of Disaster on Children and Families

Purpose

This 43-page resource, from the "Pediatric Education in Disasters Manual" (PEDs), is the ninth of ten modules. It covers immediate and chronic care needs and typical psychological reactions by age group.

Two boys in a washed out pink hue, waving.
Two boys in a washed out pink hue, waving.

Resource information

Resource: The Emotional Impact of Disaster on Children and Families

Target audience

Physicians

Target situation

Pediatricians and other physicians can use this resource to learn about providing care and mental health support in disaster situations. It also covers community-based referrals for children and their families.

Main objectives

Secondary objectives

  • Legitimize Stress
  • Long-Term Interventions
  • Re-traumatization & Chronic Stress
  • Community Engagement
  • Informal Outreach Mechanisms

Resource type

Manual or guide

Source

American Academy of Pediatrics and four other international organizations

Publication year

2009

What is included

The manual is aimed primarily at educating physicians on providing care to children and their families in disaster situations. It manual notes that "interventions...should be informed by a resilience perspective" and emphasizes:

  • Recommendations to provide to other significant adults, such as teachers.
  • How clinical care complements other interventions in affected communities.
  • How training pediatricians, nurses, school-based staff, and other professionals will be beneficial to provide:
    • Effective management.
    • Intervention.
    • Support for affected children and families, particularly in geographic areas with limited access to needed staff and resources.

The 10-module manual is available in English and Spanish. It is intended to be used in international settings in areas that are diverse in terms of:

  • Development.
  • Wealth.
  • Access to care.
  • Other resources.

Eight of the 10 modules were revised for potential use in the United States.