3. Identifying Needs of Children in the Community Prior to Disasters

3.1. Collect Demographic Data

Coordinating and Collecting Child-Specific Data

Designate a primary child-focused point of contact responsible for coordinating the collection of information about children from:

  • Shelters
  • Family Assistance Centers
  • Hospitals and health care facilities
  • Childcare and educational facilities
  • Coroner and medical examiner offices
  • Other child-serving agencies

This individual should serve as the children’s liaison and coordinate information sharing and collaboration with the appropriate Emergency Support Functions.

Relevant Emergency Support Functions

  • Emergency Support Function #6 (ESF #6): Coordinates mass care, emergency assistance, temporary housing, and human services, including sheltering, feeding, and support for family reunification.
  • Emergency Support Function #8 (ESF #8): Coordinates public health and medical services, including behavioral health and fatality management support.

Assessing Community Demographics

Collect child-specific demographic information that can inform reunification planning, including:

  • Age ranges
  • Cultural backgrounds
  • Languages spoken and communication needs
  • Disabilities and access and functional needs
  • Medical and behavioral health needs
  • Transportation and housing considerations
  • Other locally relevant factors

The following data sources are examples of resources that can help strengthen understanding of local needs.

Demographics Table

Relevant Measures Potential Data Source
  • Child-specific medical and behavioral health expertise
  • Community resilience
  • Early childhood education and schools
 Region V for Kids Regional Metrics Scorecard
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Household characteristics
  • Racial and ethnic minority status
  • Housing type and transportation
 Social Vulnerability Index
  • Education
  • Safety and health-related resources
  • Housing and social resources
  • Environmental conditions and pollution
 Child Opportunity Index (COI)

Additional Data-Collection Activities

  • Collaborate with local government agencies, educational institutions, health care providers, and community organizations to access existing data or conduct surveys.
  • Estimate the number and location of children in schools, childcare facilities, medical facilities, juvenile justice facilities, and other relevant settings during normal business hours and school days.
  • Identify how child population patterns change during evenings, weekends, holidays, and seasonal events.
  • Consider using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map and visualize child population data, community resources, hazards, and transportation needs.
Establish procedures for keeping demographic and resource information current, secure, accessible to authorized partners, and available when primary information systems are disrupted.