In the aftermath of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, Connect for Kids has pulled together online resources for helping those affected. We’ve divided them into three sections: Emergency Guidelines for Helping Victims looks at how government agencies are developing procedures for helping the displaced; Giving & Getting Help is a compilation of information on donating and volunteering, also on help available to those affected; and Help with Healing offers information on supporting kids and families dealing with trauma related to Katrina. We expect to update this resource frequently.
Emergency Guidelines for Helping Victims
General
GovBenefits.gov lets victims and disaster relief workers know about the many disaster relief programs available.
The website of the American Public Human Services Association contains up-to-date federal guidelines for administering human services in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Florida Disaster Manual
New Orleans officials are drafting a specific manual to guide responses to Hurricane Katrina. In the meantime, the Florida Legal Services' on-line disaster information can help by identifying sources of government assistance and more.
Social Security Benefits
Displaced families who get Social Security benefits, including SSI, may have trouble retrieving their checks by mail. The Social Security Administration says the US Postal Service is setting up temporary mail delivery stations to serve displaced families. Families who cannot access their direct deposits or who cannot get to a temporary mail delivery station can go to any open Social Security office and ask for immediate payment.
Medicaid and SCHIP Procedures Relaxed to Accommodate Emergency Health Care Needs
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has adopted some new, more flexible procedures to make it easier for those affected by Hurricane Katrina to receive emergency health care services under Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs. Many of the programs’ normal operating procedures, including those to determine eligibility, are being relaxed. CMS emergency relief activities, including a detailed explanation of billing and payment policy revisions and phone numbers for the state medical assistance offices, can be found online.
The US Department of Health and Human Resources announced on Thursday, September 15, that it has granted medical care payments for evacuees in Texas. These grants will allow immediate support for medical care; which includes money for uncompensated care. These grants alleviate problems by making it easier for evacuees to receive services through medicaid and other state health insurance programs.
The U.S. Government website features a consolidated listing of government-related hurricane recovery sites, including information about public health and safety, accessing disaster recovery, and help for survivors.
Educational Rights of Displaced Students
Here is a document that explains in detail the rights of parents and children for enrolling in schools under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
As the new school year begins, school districts all over the country will receive Gulf Coast children made homeless by Hurricane Katrina. Texas and other neighboring states will receive thousands of these children – but they’re not alone; families will take temporary residence in states across the country. What does that mean for local schools, and the students seeking to attend? The nonprofit Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates has drafted a memo on the educational rights of displaced and homeless children.
Head Start Programs Asked to Open Doors to Displaced Children
The Administration for Children, Youth and Families has asked all Head Start grantees, particularly those in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee, to open their doors to those displaced families who have sought refuge in their community and to seek new ways to support children, parents and others affected by this disaster.
The U.S. Department of Education launched this site to provide guidance for school administrators and community leaders seeking to serve displaced students.
Nutrition
The Food Research and Action Center, or FRAC, has launched a special section of its web site to help Hurricane Katrina victims access the federal nutrition safety net and to assist advocates, service providers and public officials.
USDA Gives Schools Flexibility to Feed Children After Hurricane
The U.S. Agriculture Department (USDA) has told schools in hurricane-ravaged areas that if they can still operate school food programs, they may serve all meals free to attending children if they cannot document which children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The waiver applies through September 30. Director Stanley Garnett of USDA’s Child Nutrition Division also said schools in affected areas are temporarily exempted from milk and other meal component requirements.
When families outside the hurricane area take in children made homeless by the disaster, school officials are to treat the children as “homeless”—meaning they are automatically eligible for free meals—and children in the families that took them in can be considered eligible for free or reduced-price meals at the discretion of school officials.
College Students and Hurricane Katrina
For information on how universities and colleges are helping students facing an interruption in their studies, visit the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators -- they’ve compiled several lists of rules, resources and information, including federal Department of Education statements on enrollment, transferring, and financial aid.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
The National Employment Law Project has information for displaced workers about the Disaster Unemployment Assistance program and how to access benefits. DUA provides temporary financial assistance to those who aren’t eligible for unemployment insurance, like self-employed workers, those who can’t contact their employment or those who were about to start a new job but now cannot because of the storm.
Information/Public Programs
ACF Relief Resources
In response to Hurricane Katrina, the Administration for Children and Families has compiled a list of resources to assist families affected by Hurricane Katrina.
President Signs Emergency Welfare Bill to help Families
President Bush has signed the TANF Emergency Response and Recovery Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-68 ) which provides emergency funding to help states support low-income families in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The bill allows loans of up to 20 percent of the TANF grant for “disaster states”—Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama–without repayment requirements. The law also arranges for earlier distribution of upcoming TANF funds to all states.
FCC Proposals to Aid Flood-Ravaged Gulf Coast
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin announced unprecedented steps to provide immediate relief to consumers and businesses harmed by Hurricane Katrina – including proposals for $51 million in assistance from the Low Income program to provide wireless handsets and a package of 300 free minutes to people without phone service; $28 million in assistance from the Rural Health Care program to public and nonprofit health care providers and shelters; and approximately $132 million for schools and libraries in the affected region and neighboring regions that will accommodate displaced populations.
Giving & Getting Help
Housing
MoveOn.org has launched an emergency national housing drive to connect empty beds with hurricane victims who need shelter. You can post your offer of housing (a spare room, extra bed, even a decent couch) or search for available housing.
Habitat for Humanity teams will move to assist Habitat families and other low-income families who lived in the storm’s destructive path and provide whatever immediate assistance possible. Long-term assistance will involve Habitat affiliates and volunteers working together with those affected by the storm in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
Helping Low-Income Katrina Survivors Return Home
Housing costs are likely to rise sharply in affected areas, because the hurricane reduced the stock of housing that is fit to inhabit. Many families who struggled to make ends meet before the hurricane are likely to have difficulty affording the increased rents in their hometowns. This analysis from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities CBPP looks at what sort of federal assistance will be most effective in helping displaced families return home if they choose to.
Food Drive
America’s Second Harvest has set up an online donation site to help support food and water efforts.
Medicine and Health Services
Project HOPE provides urgently needed medicines and medical supplies—including antibiotics, pain medication, bandages and first-aid kits—to the Gulf region.
Clothing
The National Foster Parent Association has launched a clothing drive and relief fund to support foster families displaced by Hurricane Katrina. NFPA has information on ways to contribute clothing and funds, as well as foster children orphaned by the hurricane.
School Supplies
The “We’ve Got Your Back” campaign, sponsored by Do Something and Nickelodeon, is an initiative to collect backpacks stuffed with new school supplies and personal items for the kids of the Greater New Orleans area.
ED.gov provides schools serving students displaced by Hurricane Katrina with supplies, and serves as an avenue for organizations to donate much needed school supplies. The site also features information and resources for schools serving displaced students.
Giving Wisely
The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) warned the general public about fundraising scams involving relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina and urged donors to exercise caution when giving to any type of relief effort. More information on charitable giving and evaluating a charity can be found on the AFP website under the section called “about giving.”
Good Places to Give
The Juvenile Justice Project of Louisiana (JJPL) and Families and Friends of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children (FFLIC) are mobilizing support for the hundreds of incarcerated children who have no idea where their families are and may have lost their homes. JJLP and FFLIC seek donations to help reconnect and provide support for parents and families who have lost contact with their incarcerated children when they evacuated.
To make a donation, please make all checks payable to either JJPL, or FFLIC, and designate the check specifically for "FFLIC Hurricane Relief Fund." Send cash or check contributions accordingly to:
Sonji Hart
JJPL
392 Sisters Rd.
Ponchatoula, Louisiana, 70454.
OR
Grace Bauer
FFLIC
920 Platt Street
Sulphur, Louisiana, 70663
Important Phone Numbers for Katrina Victims Seeking Legal Aid
The American Bar Association has opened 24-hour toll-free numbers for victims of Hurricane Katrina who need free legal assistance or advice. Additionally, interested lawyers can sign up at the ABA's Web site.
The numbers are:
Louisiana residents: 1-800-310-7029
Mississippi residents: 1-866-255-4495
Alabama residents: 1-800-354-6154
Volunteering
General Volunteering Sites
1-800-Volunteer.org
Points of Light Foundation
Specialized
Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) provides volunteer opportunities for public health workers employed by state and local public health agencies. Information about the EMAC can be found at the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO).
The Federal Government is mobilizing and identifying healthcare professionals and relief volunteers from non-public health organizations with expertise in several specific professional areas for the relief effort.
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) is a crisis response partner with the American Red Cross response efforts. The call has gone out to NASP and other Red Cross partners for more mental health professionals during this disaster response. Those who are qualified and interested should contact Ted Feinberg, Assistant Executive Director National Association of School Psychologists, 301-657-0270, 301-657-0275 (fax) or by email at tfeinberg@naspweb.org
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is also involved in mobilizing organizations, agencies, and corporations to offer of goods or services.
Youth Service America (YSA) offers information on Katrina Relief efforts as well as helpful tips and resources on how young people can help.
The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse has collected resources and tools to help students and teachers develop a service-learning or community service project to assist with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Resources include a list of organizations to join; lesson plans on fundraising, hurricanes, floods, and the culture of the areas affected; and stories of what students are doing to help.
In light of Katrina, pets are also in need of urgent care. North Shore Animal League of America offers information regarding ways to help pets in need through contribution efforts, adoption information for abandoned pets, and ways in which vets and volunteers can help. Also, the site provides information on ways to protect and treat pets following a natural disaster.
Kids Answering the Call to Help
Youth Service America Resources
Across the country, young people are doing what they’ve already done for years in record numbers–volunteering in their communities. To help, Youth Service America offers a list of organizations that are mobilizing to support the relief effort. The Web site also offers project planning tools, resources, a downloadable planning toolkits, and tip sheets.
Help with Healing
Connect for Kids Resources
In response to past traumatic events in American society, CFK developed a toolkit pointing to resources for helping kids cope with trauma.
Teaching Children Disaster Coping Strategies
A child's anxiety differs from an adult’s anxiety – explaining tragedies to children and helping them overcome fear and learn to cope is important. Experts recommend nurturing and reassuring children that they are loved and safe, rather than hiding the news from them. You can learn more about how to present age appropriate information to your children at Love Our Children USA.
PBS Kids is an excellent site for families seeking help for children traumatized by Katrina' both directly and indirectly, as a result of watching the news and hearing information outside the home. This site offers informational articles for parents and caregivers; as well as educational video clips of their favorite characters from Sesame Street talking about trauma.
PBS Parents: Talking With Kids about Tough Topics
PBS Kids: Sesame Street: Helping Children Cope with Difficult Times
Helping kids feel safe during a time of crisis is a key priority. The website for the popular children's show Arthur provides various informational resources for parents and even includes a "read-aloud story" for parents to share with their children about this sensitive issue. (The story and website are also available in Spanish.)
The impact of Katrina is especially hard on families with young children. Zero to Three provides ways people can send recommendations to senators and local representatives in the areas of mental health, child care, welfare, family support, and physical help. Zero to Three also has created a special relief fund for this cause where people can donate general relief needs, and has resources to help parents talk about this natural disaster with their very young children.
Mental Health Resources for Kids Dealing with Disaster
The NYU Child Study Center has developed a database of articles and resources related to child mental health in the wake of catastrophic disaster.
The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) provides information for parents and educators about how to help children cope with disaster.
Following Hurricane Katrina, it is imperative to consider both the physical and emotional needs of children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). AAP recommends these resources to help children, parents and pediatricians.
The potential impact of this disaster on children is far-reaching and extremely serious. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides disaster specific information on how to help children cope before, during, and after disasters occur.
Crisis Hotlines
SAMHSA Sets Crisis Hotline for Persons Affected by Hurricane
Profound sadness, grief, and anger are normal reactions that many people may be experiencing in the wake of hurricane Katrina, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants people in crisis to know they can call a hotline and speak to a trained counselor in one of the local crisis centers across the country.
HHS Toll-Free Hotline for Victims Seeking Counseling
The Department of Health and Human Services has released a toll-free hotline for people in crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Callers who dial 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) will be connected to a network of local crisis centers across the country that can provide crisis counseling.
Education/Learning
The National Head Start Association, with support from Johnson & Johnson, is funneling contributions through three Head Start programs that are coordinating relief efforts in the states affected by Katrina.
The Southern Early Childhood Association is accepting donations for rebuilding early childhood facilities in the areas affected by Katrina.
The Exchange has assembled information and helpful links to more than 20 Katrina efforts, including coverage of policy initiatives aimed at facilitating relief.
This resource from the Nation’s Network of Child Care Resource and Referral provides information about helping parents find child care and helping rebuild child care facilities.
Curricula for Teachers
Teaching Strategies, Inc. is providing free curriculum and assessment materials to programs enrolling additional children displaced by Katrina. The company is also raising money for the Louisiana Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth. For more information go to.
Hurricane Relief: Embrace Mississippi Children
This project is soliciting financial support and education materials.
Hurricane Katrina: The School Impact
Follow this ongoing EDUCATION WEEK series as they cover the effects on schools, districts, and states affected by the storm and the resulting floods.
Grants Available for Educators Affected by Katrina
NEA has vowed to raise at least $1 million to aid public school employees personally affected by the hurricane. Funds will go toward housing, food, clothing, or other personal needs. Call NEA's helpline: 1-866-247-2239.
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