A disaster may change how you offer early childhood services until you can restore operations fully. Comprehensive services include education, nutrition, health, and mental health services.
Education
During a long facility closure, look for ways to continue educational services. You may be able to find a temporary place to offer services. You also might choose to use virtual platforms, change how you deliver services, or find other ways of supporting children and families. Make sure that families continue to have teaching support for their child’s learning activities.
Nutrition
Many families rely on schools and early childhood programs for nutritious meals and snacks for their children. Disruption of this service after a disaster can make it difficult for families to have enough nutritious food. Consider offering meals and snacks at another place in your community or giving out bagged or boxed meals.
Contact community agencies — like food banks, pantries, and other volunteer food distribution programs that are active in a disaster — for information on how to get access to food in an emergency or after a disaster. The Emergency Food Assistance Program is a resource for emergency food assistance at no cost.
Health and Mental Health Services
A long disaster response often interferes with regularly scheduled well-child visits and routine health care, such as childhood vaccinations and oral health care. Staying up to date on well-child visits is important for the health and safety of children and families in your program. Partner with local agencies to help families get access to health care for their children. Work with your mental health consultant to help children, families, and staff get access to mental health services if needed.
Keep Mental Health in Mind
Work with your community partners to meet the social and emotional needs of your early childhood community after a disaster. Check out the Head Start Heals Rebuilding Hope and Feeding Love animated videos for examples.
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Resource Type: Article
National Centers: Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety
Audience: Directors and Managers
Last Updated: June 5, 2025