Children and Adolescents
- Several sections of the SAMHSA Disaster Behavioral Health Information Series (DBHIS) resource collection focus on the common responses and needs children and adolescents may have during and after disasters. These sections include resources that highlight the unique needs of children and adolescents in and after disasters, as well as how adults who work with children, and parents and other caregivers, can offer support to children and adolescents in coping.
- Following are SAMHSA DBHIS sections related to children and adolescents:
- Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Can Experience Traumatic Stress
- A Fact Sheet for Parents and Caregivers
- In this fact sheet, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) explains what intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are, describes how trauma such as may be experienced in a disaster may affect children with IDD differently from other children, and emphasizes the key role caregivers have in supporting their children in coping with adversity and trauma.
- Flood Resources
- This section of the NCTSN’s website describes floods and provides information for parents, other caregivers, and families about what to do before, during, and after a flood. Descriptions and links to related resources are also provided.
- A Fact Sheet for Parents and Caregivers
- PFA: Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers after Disasters
- This handout lists ways that infants and toddlers may react to disasters, how parents should interpret these reactions, and steps parents can take to help infants and toddlers in coping. The handout is part of the PFA Field Operations Guide, which describes PFA, an approach responders can use to provide support and assistance to disaster survivors.
- PFA: Parent Tips for Helping Preschool-age Children After Disasters
- Part of the PFA Field Operations Guide, this handout lists reactions preschool-age children may have to disasters, including behaviors that are common reactions among children in this age range. The handout presents ways for parents to respond and things they can do and say.
- PFA: Parent Tips for Helping School-Age Children after Disasters
- This handout lists reactions children may have to disasters, ways parents can respond helpfully to these reactions, and examples of things parents can do and say to support their school-age children after a disaster. The handout is part of the PFA Field Operations Guide.
- The handout is also available in three (3) languages other than English:
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Japanese
- Spanish
- The handout is also available in three (3) languages other than English:
- This handout lists reactions children may have to disasters, ways parents can respond helpfully to these reactions, and examples of things parents can do and say to support their school-age children after a disaster. The handout is part of the PFA Field Operations Guide.
- PFA: Parent Tips for Helping Adolescents after Disasters
- Part of the Psychological First Aid (PFA) Field Operations Guide, this handout lists reactions adolescents may have to disasters, suggests ways for parents to respond, and offers examples of things parents can do and say to support adolescent disaster survivors.