Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
and regulatory agencies, and child care resource and referral agencies. FEMA has
also been directed to revise Public Assistance regulations to codify child care as
an essential service with similar changes possible in the Stafford Act. Thus, cer-
tain costs relative to child care and early education may be reimbursable during
the recovery period. Grant funding mechanisms may also be available to repair or
rebuild private, for-profit child care facilities, support the establishment of tempo-
rary child care, and reimburse states for subsidizing child care services to disaster-
affected families.
State and local emergency planning agencies, along with public health and mass
care representatives, should begin to coordinate with early childhood education
centers and schools to begin discussions regarding disaster planning, training, and
exercises.
Elementary and Secondary Education
Elementary and secondary education recommendations are as follows:
◾
Improve preparedness of schools and school districts by providing additional
support to states.
◾
Enhance the ability of school personnel to support children who are trauma-
tized, grieving, or otherwise recovering from a disaster.
◾
Ensure that school systems recovering from disasters are provided immediate
resources to reopen and restore the learning environment in a timely manner
and provide support for displaced students and their host schools.
These recommendations include providing disaster preparedness grants to state
education agencies to oversee, coordinate, and improve disaster planning, training,
and exercises statewide, and to ensure that all districts within the state meet certain
baseline criteria. Provisions are also suggested that would provide funds to states
to implement training and professional development programs in basic skills to
provide support to grieving students and students in crisis including requirements
for teacher certification.
Other potential outcomes include congressional establishment of an emergency
contingency fund within the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program
to expedite grants to school districts serving an influx of displaced children. In
addition, the report suggests the need for expert technical assistance and consulta-
tion regarding services and interventions to address disaster mental health needs of
students and school personnel.
As stated above relative to early childhood centers, state and local emergency
planning agencies, along with public health and mass care representatives, should
begin to coordinate with elementary and secondary education officials to begin
discussions regarding disaster planning, training, and exercises.
