“Arkansans Ask: Children & Disasters”

Posted by
AETN
on Mon, 01 May 2017 16:50:26 -050001 May 2017

Disasters can strike anywhere at any time, and during the day roughly 70 million U.S. children are separated from their families. What are steps we can take to improve child-focused disaster preparedness, community resilience and help any household become better prepared for emergencies?

In a special episode of “Arkansans Ask” on Thursday, May 18, at 7 p.m., local , state and national experts from a variety of fields will share insight, guidance and resources to help protect children before, during and after disasters. They’ll also be taking your questions and offering answers as part of this live, call-in program. A special live stream of “Arkansans Ask: Children & Disasters” will also be available at aetn.org/arask to share this vital information with even more viewers.

Panelists for the episode include: Jeff Schlegelmilch, deputy director, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Earth Institute, Columbia University; Debbie Malone, program coordinator, Child Care Aware NWA; Erin Lauer, community preparedness manager, Save the Children; John Luther, director of emergency management, Washington County Department of Emergency Management; and Glenda Deffebaugh, Youth and Family Director, Boys & Girls Club of Fayetteville.

Want to share your thoughts? We look forward to hearing them! You can submit your questions and comments during the live broadcast at 800-662-2386, paffairs@aetn.org or on Twitter with #ARASK.

“Arkansans Ask: Children & Disasters” panelists represent the Resilient Children Resilient Communities Coalition, a special project in Washington County that partners with the Resilient Children/Resilient Communities Initiative (RCRC) to directly address the unique preparedness, response and recovery needs of children in disaster situations.

The Resilient Children Resilient Communities Coalition includes stakeholders such as emergency management and law enforcement, leaders and governing bodies of child-serving institutions including schools, daycare and afterschool programs, health officials and community-based organizations.

Led by Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness in partnership with Save the Children, the RCRC Initiative is funded by a grant from biopharmaceutical and healthcare company GSK.

Additional information on children and disasters is available at aetn.org/earlyeducation. Among the resources provided is the presentation “Children in a Changing Climate: the Importance of Childcare Providers in Disasters.”