EPIC Exchange - Join Our Upcoming Webinars

Join the next EPIC Webinar - June 19, 2018

CDC EPIC: Communication for the 2018 Hurricane Season July 18, 2018 2:00 PM Eastern Time Information on how to connect, previous EPIC webinars, and information on CE credits can be found on the EPIC webinar website.

Join the next CERC Webinar - July 11, 2018

CERC: Messages and Audiences July 11, 2018 2:00 PM Eastern Time Information on how to connect, previous CERC webinars, and information on CE credits can be found on the CERC webinar website.

Additional Learning Opportunities

National Health Care for the Homeless Council's 2018 Spring Virtual Training: Responding to Crises- This webinar series provides a set of trainings exploring disaster preparedness, response, and trauma in people experiencing homelessness.

Updates to CDC's Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Manual- We strive to keep the CERC curriculum up to date and user-friendly. So far in 2018 we have updated three chapters: Introduction, Messages and Audiences, and Community Engagement.

Now available in Spanish: CDC Resources for Caring for Children in Emergencies- 

Helping Children Cope in Emergencies - Cómo ayudar a los niños a sobrellevar las emergencias   

Children and Youth with Special Healthcare needs in Emergencies - Los niños y jóvenes con necesidades especiales de atención médica durante emergencias

EPIC partners play an important role in emergencies. Learn about a different partner each month.

 National Child Traumatic Stress Network

What is the National Child Traumatic Stress Network’s (NCTSN’s) mission? Our mission is to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families, and communities throughout the U.S. The UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS) coordinates the work of the NCTSN, a national network of 86 currently funded and over 150 affiliate centers. The NCCTS houses the Terrorism and Disaster Program (TDP), which promotes the behavioral

health and well-being of children and families affected by terrorism, disaster, and public health emergencies.

What is the role of NCTSN in a public health emergency?

NCTSN has responded to over 250 disasters and other emergencies. Our role is to:

• Inform public policy and awareness.
• Provide direct services.
• Develop and disseminate evidence-based interventions and resources.
• Offer education and training initiatives.
• Collaborate with established systems of care.
• Engage in data collection and evaluation.
• Identify and address the unmet needs of children at heightened risk.

How do you plan for emergencies?

To plan for emergencies, we encourage NCTSN centers to be trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA), to develop partnerships with local emergency preparedness authorities, schools, voluntary organizations, and other child-serving systems, and to expand PFA training to these partners.  We ensure that our centers and partners have access to the latest resources and have strategies to communicate effectively to the public.

The latest resources to prepare professionals and the public for emergencies are at http://www.NCTSN.org. Also, the NCTSN Learning Center offers free distance learning opportunities.

What is one experience or lesson-learned that you have from an emergency response?

Last fall was very busy for the NCTSN and our partners with numerous natural disasters and mass violence events. We had to support those affected by these events, whether they remained in the area, had to relocate, or lived some distance away from the initial event. By supporting the local communities we were able to identify unmet needs of impacted children and expand services through mobile clinics, translating resources, and training health providers in screening and knowing referral options.

What is one piece of advice that you would give to other EPIC partners?

We would recommend EPIC partners ensure that their staff are prepared to address the acute and longer-term needs of children and families after all types of public health emergencies. Seek out trainings (PFA), learn about preparedness activities and mobile apps (Help Kids Cope & Monster Guard apps), develop partnerships with child-serving systems, know where to find response resources for children (NCTSN, CDC) and include youth voices in your efforts.

Take the time now, before a disaster, to review your plans and strengthen your ability to serve children!