Oral

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the country¡¦s worst natural disaster, public health and pediatric providers, policy-makers, and advocates noted the particular vulnerability of children to such a catastrophe. A number of research studies have focused upon the unique social and service needs of such exposed children. Additionally, the US Congress created the 10-member National Commission on Children and Disasters (NCCD) to formulate policy recommendations to address children¡¦s particular needs. NCCD will be presenting its recommendations to Congress in October 2010. This proposed session will highlight some of the key research findings related to the social, educational and health costs of a disaster upon children, and consider them in the context of NCCD¡¦s final report. A member of the Commission or its staff will be invited to moderate the panel.

Session Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be better able to: 1.Identify the unique needs of children exposed to catastrophic disasters; 2.Analyze the structural factors that can mediate or buffer outcomes among an exposed pediatric population; 3. Demonstrate policy interventions that might strengthen disaster response and recovery systems and mitigate children¡¦s inherent vulnerability

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)