5. Response & Recovery (Just-in-Time Implementation)

5.2. Pediatric Disaster Behavioral Health Operational Planning Process

Why use an operational planning process?

Effective disaster response and recovery operations utilize operational planning processes to manage the significant demands of a disaster and mobilize resources towards specific goals. These processes are repeated throughout incident response and recovery to address changes in the hazard, the impacts, the available resources, and the needs of the community.

The Pediatric Disaster Behavioral Health Operational Planning Process can be used by organizations, coalitions, and jurisdictions to guide the development of a comprehensive pediatric behavioral health response/recovery mission, develop specific objectives, implement effective strategies, and adjust to the needs of the community over time. This process aligns with ICS/HICS planning processes (e.g., “The Planning P”) and can integrate into teams using those processes. 

How to use this process?

  • Review the process and engage appropriate staff including behavioral health professionals, leadership, and response/recovery personnel. This will vary depending on your organization and/or jurisdiction. 
  • Implement the outlined process steps, consider the associated prompts, and reference additional resources as needed (these are hyperlinked within the process).
  • Continually revisit the process and repeat steps based on rate of change of the incident or community needs.

For an interactive version of the image below that includes active links please download the PDF file (Modified based on an operational planning process provided by Protean Preparedness).

PEDIATRIC DISASTER BEHAVIORAL HEALTH RESPONSE—OPERATIONAL PLANNING PROCESS