Identification, Location and Tracking of Children/young adults

Foster/adoptive parents will contact Refuge House at the emergency numbers provided below in the event of an emergency resulting in an evacuation of their home. Refuge House Disaster team will maintain and keep a binder including the following: placement papers, Attachment B, a copy of insurance documentation, list of medications, and photos. In the event of a terrorist attack or natural disaster, Refuge House has provided all families three locations they can find assistance, help and shelter:

In the event that none of the above locations are accessible or safe and a family must evacuation the Region, the family will make their way to the following location. Refuge House will then contact DFPS as soon as possible.

Arrangements for Adequate Provisions: (staffing, shelter, food, transportation, medication, supplies, power, emergency equipment and services)

All foster/adoptive homes will be advised to follow FEMA directions for all emergencies. Foster/adoptive homes will be staffed by foster/adoptive parents. Foster/adoptive parents who are unable to care for the children/young adults placed in their home due to an emergency situation are expected to contact Refuge House at the emergency numbers provided to them and Refuge House will make alternative care arrangements in coordination with DFPS. Foster/adoptive parents are expected to notify Refuge House of any lack of provisions and Refuge House will utilize all resources available to meet the needs of foster/adoptive children/young adults placed with the agency. If Refuge House becomes aware that communication has been cut off, the agency will alert emergency personnel and cooperate and assist with their plans, deploying designated staff to the foster/adoptive home to provide provisions if permitted by authorities.

Families who care for children/young adults with primary medical needs are accepting youth who are further at risk during a disaster which affects utility systems due to their disabilities or serious chronic health conditions. These include:

· Children/young adults dependent upon life-sustaining technology (oxygen, ventilators, IV, apnea monitors, and TPN lines);

· Children/young adults who can’t be easily moved because of physical fragility;

· Children/young adults affected by extremes in temperatures;

· Children/young adults in large casts or other equipment that impedes movement and carrying;

· Children/young adults who have conditions such as autism, brain injury, developmental disability, head injury, or visual impairment that can make it hard for them to adjust to sudden environmental changes;

· Children/young adults with cancer who are hooked up to IV’s and other equipment; and

· Premature babies and other vulnerable children/young adults.

Therefore, these families must communicate their plan to Refuge House to care for such a child in a disaster in to keep them out of a health crisis, prior to the placement of a child who meets the above criteria. This may include, keeping emergency generators on hand, etc.

Provision of Services to Children/young adults during and After a Disaster:

During a disaster:

Should Refuge House become aware of an impending disaster that would affect agency foster/adoptive families or that a disaster has occurred, Refuge House will conduct a needs assessment as soon as feasibly possible. Physical needs will be met first, including the provision of medical treatment, in coordination with DFPS and local authorities using all available resources. Refuge House will collaborate with other agencies and organizations (including the Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA, etc) to organize the most effective response and will make every attempt to eliminate delays in the continuation of the delivery of services.

After a disaster:

Families that survive a disaster face days, months, and sometimes years of recovery. For families of children/young adults and youth in substitute care that may have emotional, behavioral, mental, and medical issues, this process can be more difficult. Recognizing this, Refuge House is committed to ensure coordination, technical assistance, resources and support to families impacted by disaster, through:

1. Identification and development of partnerships with critical stakeholders before, during and after a disaster;

2. Facilitation of evacuation and locating safe housing for families of children/young adults in care;

3. Assisting and supporting families as they relocate;

4. Linking families with necessary services, including crisis intervention and medical service provisions, including prescribed medication (psychotropic meds, insulin, asthma-related treatments), emergency care, and medical care for children/young adults with primary medical needs;

5. Educating families and staff on navigating the system of care, which may be new to them or may have changed as a result of the disaster;

6. Supporting and assisting families as they enroll their children/young adults in new schools;

7. Listening to parents and children/young adults as they share their stories; and

8. Ensuring families access necessary mental health services for their child and family;

Attempt to maintain the services, as required by a court order and/or the child’s service plan, for the children/young adults in care after the disaster.