2. Planning Process

2.2. Assess Existing Local, State, and Regional Plans

Integrating Child Reunification into Existing Plans

Reuniting children with their families requires specialized expertise, detailed planning, and coordination among multiple organizations. A community may already have reunification plans, but those plans may address adults and children together or apply only to a particular jurisdiction, agency, adult medical center, or local hospital.

Child-specific reunification procedures should be integrated into these existing frameworks. This process requires careful alignment and, when necessary, revisions to current plans, policies, and operational procedures.

Emergency managers and stakeholders responsible for existing plans should participate throughout the integration process. Their involvement helps ensure that the community plan is comprehensive, operationally feasible, and capable of supporting a coordinated response for children and families.

Use Appendix C: Identifying Gaps and Existing Elements in Child Reunification to assess current capabilities, identify missing child-specific considerations, and determine where existing plans require revision.