Children’s
Working Group
Update
to
National
Commission on Children and Disasters
November
10, 2009
Tracy
L. Wareing
Chair,
FEMA Children’s Working Group
Counselor
to Secretary Napolitano
Purpose
of Working Group
Established
by FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in August 2009 and charged with:
Evaluating
recommendations of the National Commission on Children and Disasters
Implementing
planning, response, and recovery strategies specific to the needs of
children and ensuring that they are integrated into FEMA’s overall
planning guidance and operations from the onset
Coordinating
and collaborating with experts from other federal agencies, and non-governmental
stakeholders to address and elevate the needs of children as they relate
to disasters
Contributing
to creating a lasting change, at every level of government, when it
comes to planning for and addressing children’s needs in times of
disaster
Core
Working Group Membership
Chaired
by a senior advisor to DHS Secretary Napolitano
Designated
Staff -- Lead Coordinator supports Working Group
Includes
representatives from virtually all FEMA sectors:
Office
of the Administrator
All
Program Directorates: National Preparedness, Disaster Operations, Logistics
Management, Disaster Assistance, Mitigation and Grants Management.
Regional
Operations, including regional representation
Specialty
areas: Disability Advisor to the Administrator; DHS Office of Health
Affairs; Center for Faith Based and Community Initiatives and Neighborhood
Partnerships; U.S. Fire Administration
Supporting
Offices: External Affairs, Chief Counsel, Policy and Program Analysis
FEMA
representatives who serve on the National Commission’s subcommittees
Initial
Focus Areas of
Children’s Working Group
Commission’s
Interim Report Recommendations:
Recommendation
Area 1: Disaster Management and Recovery
Recommendation
Area 5: Disaster Case Management
Recommendation
Area 6: Child Care
Recommendation
Area 9: Sheltering Standards, Service and Supplies
Recommendation
Area 10: Housing
Involving
Children in Personal Preparedness for Families
STEP
Program
FEMA
for KIDS website look and content is being updated
Inclusion
of Children’s Working Group across agency initiatives
Children’s
Working Group Established
Integrating
the needs of children across disaster planning and operations.
Examples include:
Multi-Agency
Shelter Needs Assessment and Support Working Group
Pandemic
Planning Guidance Working Group
Personal
Assistance Service in Shelters
National
Disaster Housing Task Force and Subgroups
Real
time exercise – American Samoa Tsunami
ESF
#6 Coordination – American Samoa Tsunami
Building
relationships with key stakeholders and subject matter experts
Progress
in
Disaster Management and Recovery
Progress
in
Disaster Management and Recovery
Homeland
Security Grant Program (HSGP) FY 2010 Guidance will be issued soon and
will:
Provide
clarification as to how grant dollars may be used to support preparedness
and planning activities for children’s needs;
Provide
resources for grantees to incorporate children into their planning and
purchase of equipment and supplies, provide training to a broad range
of child-specific providers, and exercise capabilities relating to children;
Incorporate
the Shelter Supply List.
Progress
in
Disaster Management and Recovery
Disaster
Planning and Guidance
Discussions
begun with National Preparedness Directorate regarding base planning
documents and guidance
Rewrite
for National Response Framework will begin next year; work through ESF
lead agencies to address children’s needs
Preparedness
Training and Exercises
Discussions
begun with FEMA’s National Exercise Division
Will
incorporate children’s issues into National Level Exercise for 2011
FEMA
is piloting a classroom/independent study course titled “Planning
for Children and Disasters”
Progress in
Disaster Management and Recovery
Strengthening
Disaster Recovery for the Nation
President
asked HUD and DHS Secretaries to co-chair Long Term Disaster Recovery
Working Group involving more than 20 federal agencies and offices and
tasked with:
Preparing
Report to President with recommendations for improving long term disaster
recovery
Developing
National Disaster Recovery Framework to provide detailed operational
guidance to recovery organizations
Progress
in
Disaster Management and Recovery
Strengthening
Disaster Recovery for the Nation
Stakeholder
Input –Beginning with 16 questions
Launched www.DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov
website
Held
10 joint DHS-FEMA /HUD Regional stakeholder video teleconferences
In
November, HUD and DHS/FEMA hosting five stakeholder forums in New Orleans,
New York, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Memphis
Wide
cross section of invitees, including children’s groups. Welcome
suggested invitees for Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Memphis.
Working
to set meeting with Commission’s Human Services Subcommittee
Additional
opportunities for input, including public comment on draft of Framework
in February
Progress
in Disaster Case Management
Pre-scripted
Mission Assignment to Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families (ACF)
If
requested by a State to DHS-FEMA following disaster declaration, the
mission assignment allows rapid deployment of disaster case management
services via ACF model
Near
Completion of Inter-Agency Agreement (IAA) with ACF
Will
provide for (1) deployment of ACF holistic disaster case management
model when requested by the State to DHS-FEMA following a disaster declaration
and (2) the process to transition to a State administered program to
address longer term needs
Progress
in Child Care
Clarification
regarding Eligible Funding Under Stafford
Emergency
Sheltering – in conjunction with congregate care shelters and
stand alone child care centers stood up by state/locals for short duration
post disaster (whether government run or through state/local contract
with private provider)
Temporary
Facilities – are eligible for reimbursement for public and private
non-profit child centers whose permanent facilities are damaged beyond
immediate use by the disaster
Cost
to Repair/Rebuild – private non-profit child care centers are
considered essential services of a government nature under Stafford
Stafford
Act requires private non-profit center to first apply for SBA loan.
If application denied by SBA , private non-profit centers may
apply to FEMA for assistance. If SBA loan only covers part of cost,
private non-profit center may apply to FEMA for the difference
Private
centers are not eligible under Stafford Act.
Progress
in Sheltering
Incorporating
the Shelter Supply List into planning documents and grant guidance
Logistics
Management Directorate has been charged with identifying the best means
for rapidly acquiring and distributing these supplies to an impacted
area
Critical
items necessary to support infants and children have been incorporated
into the Multi-Agency Shelter Assessment Tool and Pandemic Guidance
for shelters
Progress
in Housing
Children’s
Working Group (and Commission staff) are participating in each housing
sub-group to identify gaps in the delivery of disaster housing assistance
as they relate to families with children. They are working to:
Identify
essential services specific to children that must be present during
each phase of housing: sheltering/interim/long-term
Identify
innovative ways to continue education for school aged children during
each phase of housing
Questions