Being ready for a disaster includes preparing to protect the emotional well-being of children, staff, and families. The mental health lead offer guidance during the preparedness, response, and recovery phases.
Consider these tips for including mental health in your disaster preparedness plan:
- Know which children may need extra emotional support during an emergency and assign staff to help them. Be sure to talk with each family so you know how to comfort their child and keep this information in your Bee CALM Backpack.
- Include training on topics such as calming phrases and techniques, trauma-informed care, and psychological first aid for all staff to prepare them to support children during an emergency. Some state agencies may have a disaster behavioral health coordinator who can offer disaster preparedness training in mental health and psychological first aid.
- Include a list of organizations or people in your community who can help you offer mental health support for adults and children in your plan. The list may include mental health agencies, mental health consultants, emergency shelters, and support programs for vulnerable populations.
- Work with these community partners when making your disaster preparedness plan, so you can contact them during the response or recovery phase.
Share these strategies to prepare children emotionally for disasters and emergencies:
- Read social stories with children that help them understand what to expect during an emergency.
- During drills, teach children the shelter-in-place, lockdown and stay safe, and evacuation procedures using language that is appropriate for their age and development.
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Resource Type: Article
National Centers: Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety
Audience: Directors and Managers
Last Updated: June 5, 2025