Today's Talktime gives us another opportunity to understand the problems created by this unprecedented natural disaster, and talk about the best ways to help.

Stacy Callender, Starkville, MS: I am having difficulty in locating appropriate materials for preschoolers. While most of the research I have seen points to difficulties young children will have, ideas and suggestions about intervention are few and far between. Most of the materials I have found are for school-age children. What suggestions do you have specifically for 3-5 year olds?

Elizabeth: In general, interventions with young children who have been traumatized can be delicate work, so if counselors, clinicians, etc. have not done this type of work before, it's helpful to get supervision from someone who has had this experience. Assessments with young children who have been traumatized are very important because what traumatizes them about an event may be different than what we would imagine. What kids are scared of may not make as much sense to us, especially with younger children. Parents and caregivers are important sources of information on what a child was exposed to and how they reacted at the time. Play interviews with children can help a clinician assess what specific stimuli were traumatizing. (Linore Terr's work is a good resource for this. Michael Scheeringa has developed a scale, Zero-to-Three Criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; the reference is listed below.)

Working with the child's caregiver is very important. Parents may need to be educated about children's reactions to trauma and how oppositional behavior can be a sign of anxiety. Play therapy that focuses on helping children tell their story and then change it can help them think about different elements that keep them safe. (Alicia Lieberman has done a lot of work in this area.)Psychologist, counselors, social workers and other mental health professionals working with preschool-aged children also may find the following resources helpful:

Tips for helping preschool children:

Amy, NC: I live in a hurricane plagued area, what do you suggest for preparing for these types of tragedies?

Jan: Unfortunately, hindsight makes clear how important planning for an emergency can be—for a family or a community.

The American Red Cross website has a section on how families can be better prepared for a hurricane. There is an evaluation checklist as well as guidelines for what public health agencies can be doing.

Paul, New Mexico: I want do more than donate money, where can I go to help kids affected by this?

You can also contact your local agencies or churches to see if they have leads on where you can best contribute your time and talents.

Ruby, TX: With Hurricane Rita blowing into the Gulf of Texas, how do you think people will react to being evacuated after seeing the tragedies that occurred in Louisiana? Or, in the case of the Louisiana evacuees seeking refuge in the Houston/ Galveston area, to being re-evacuated, just when they thought they were safe?

Elizabeth: Hopefully the tragedies that occurred in the aftermath of Katrina can be avoided this time. People are more aware of and sensitive to the need to evacuate ahead of the storm. Making a plan and evacuating areas can help people adjust better in the long run.

In terms of people who have already been evacuated once by Katrina, a second evacuation can bring up painful reminders of what happened before. If you are in this situation, make sure to take care of yourself both physically and emotionally and get the support you need to help you cope.

John, Mesa, AZ: A big question: Will Katrina force politicians to deal with the poverty issues facing too many American children? Will poverty seep into the background once this is all over?

Debbie: That is indeed a big question, and the answer will depend in part on how children's advocates raise these issues in the coming months. For the first time in a very long time, we have had a very public sympathetic frame on children and families in poverty. We have also had very concrete images of what it means to be poor in this country—not enough money to buy a bus ticket or to pay for three days worth of food. It's important for child advocates to keep that image in front of the public and policy makers. We know that this has temporarily bumped up concern over poverty. Its too early to predict if that concern will last—but we can all help it last by working to keep it on the front page and in front of policy makers. We need to draw those connections.

Jan, CFK: Thousands of students in the Gulf Coast areas have had to miss a lot of school. When they return, teachers will have to work hard with them to make up for the missed time. At the same time a lot of kids will probably still have trouble concentrating on their studies after what they've been through. What advice do you have for teachers when their schools open up again?

Elizabeth: When schools re-open after a tragedy like Hurricane Katrina, teachers often feel pulled between immediately making up for lost time and addressing the emotional needs of their students. Teachers also may feel hesitant to discuss what happened and want to return to normalcy by making up missed lessons right away. However, a lot of healing happens in schools and it is important for students to have an opportunity to discuss their feelings. Spending some time addressing students' emotional needs when they first return to school will make it easier for them to learn and catch up on their lessons later.

Classroom discussions can help students express their feelings, understand normal emotional reactions to events like hurricanes, and learn ways to relax. Involving students in activities such as planting a tree, writing poems, or drawing pictures enables students to have a sense of control over their lives and the event. If a teacher doesn't feel comfortable leading a discussion, a school counselor or other member of the crisis team may be available to lead a group intervention.

It also is important for teachers or other staff members to let students know that everyone reacts differently to traumatic events. Some may feel sad, angry, or scared. Others may not know how to deal with the situation and tell jokes to help themselves feel better. Educating students about the different reactions people may have can help them understand others' behavior and prevent a fight from breaking out when tension is high.

CG, Washington: Elizabeth,

Should we be worried about the children who were evacuated because of Katrina now facing yet another evacuation from shelters in south Texas? What impact does all of this displacement have on their sense of belonging?

Elizabeth: Children who have been evacuated by Katrina and are facing another evacuation are at particular risk for experiencing both short and long term emotional difficulties. After a tragedy like Hurricane Katrina, returning to a sense of normalcy, routine, and reconnecting with emotional supports help children to feel better. A second evacuation could disrupt this process and retraumatize children if not carefully handled.

Mary from Yukon, OK: Is it possible to foster a child that is seperated from parents and/or family without having to go through the red tape of becoming a qualified foster parent?

Debbie: Probably not. Most of the children who have been through this terrible experience are with family members, in shelters and hotels. Relatively few have been separated from their families, and that is good. Those who have are generally in shelters or in state custody, and you would need to become a qualified foster parent to care for them. There may be some states that have an emergency process in place for temporarily licensing families to care for children which would reduce the red tape, so it may be worth checking with your state, but I have not heard of any.

Liz Chase, UW Southeastern CT: How are parents being informed of the resources available for the children's emotional needs specific to flooding loss?

Jan: My impression is that the emergency assistance organizations are well aware of the importance of providing emotional help and counseling for children affected by the flooding. There is even a phone number people can call to get a quick consultation on a number of public health issues, including addressing mental health needs of affected children.

Washington, DC: Some children have only experienced the Katrina devastation by watching it on TV. Is it possible that they too can be more fearful or anxious as a result? How can a parent or caregiver help a child cope with fear over something that hasn't even happened to them?

Elizabeth: I'm glad that you brought this up. Watching the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina on TV can be very traumatic, even for children who were not directly affected by the disaster. Children can become fearful, clingy, depressed, and overwhelmed by the horrific sights in media coverage. We therefore recommend that parents limit children's television viewing of the disaster, and eliminate all viewing for children under 12 years of age when possible. Sometimes, despite parents' best efforts, it is difficult to completely eliminate television. This is especially true for teenagers. In this case, it is important to both use this as an opportunity to help children understand what has occurred and comfort children.

Parents and caregivers can start a conversation about the hurricane by asking a child what they already know about the disaster and how the child feels about the situation. If a child has questions, answer them honestly and in terms s/he can understand. Remaining calm when you talk to a child is important, since children take their emotional cues from you. Children also need to be reassured that they are safe and let them know that people are doing everything they can to help people who have been hurt. Some children will not want to talk about what they saw on television. If this is the case, don't force them to talk about it. Bringing up the topic will let them know that they can talk about it if/when they are ready. Parents also can help children feel safer by sticking to normal routines, such as meal times and bedtimes. Encourage children to participate in activities that will help them relax, like playing, listening to music, exercising and spending time with family and friends. Children tend to feel better when they can do something to help others. Writing letters to children in the disaster zone, donating toys, or opening a lemonade stand to raise money for victims of the hurricane can help children gain a better sense of control.

Finally, if you are concerned about your child's reactions to Hurricane Katrina, listen to your parental intuition. A child who has an intense or prolonged reaction, or begins having difficulties at school, with their peers, or at home may need help from someone outside the home, like a counselor or other mental health professional.

David, Vermont
I have an idea for kids returning to school—to have their teachers help them write or draw their stories about what they went through in the hurricane or afterward. These stories could all be collected and displayed in a library or museum. Would this be helpful for children who have experienced so much in so little time?

Elizabeth: This is a great idea. Helping children to write and draw their stories is a powerful way to help them understand what has happened and cope with the situation. In a classroom, teachers should just be aware that drawing/writing about the hurricane could cause some children to be upset. It can be helpful to have a school mental health professional on alert during the activity so that a child who become upset can easily be referred to the counselor.

Amanda:Kids and pets. My 5-year-old would be so sad if he lost our pup. Any resources for kids who might have lost an animal in the tragedy?

Jan
It might help to have a book to read about a family who experiences the loss of a pet — perhaps your local children's librarian would be able to recommend such a book suitable for a 5-year-old.

Whether via a book or just a conversation, it always helps children to be able to put strong feelings into words but sometimes it's up to the adult to start the conversation by asking how it would feel to lose a puppy you love.

Washington, DC:
Are Democrats focussing enough on the poverty issues this natural disaster has highlighted for kids?

Debbie:
I think the real question is whether all politicians are focusing enough on this issue. The good news is that Congress has delayed for a month big cuts to programs that these children and families need in the wake of the hurricane, and that Senators on both sides of the aisle have called for delaying these cuts indefinitely or not doing them at all. So more politicians are recognizing that children in poverty need programs and services to support them. We need to make sure that they continue to focus on the needs of these children and families. There is also a clear recognition that poverty was a critical factor in determining who could evacuate before the hurricane hit, and planners are revisiting evacution plans around the country to try to address those needs.

The larger debate—over addressing the root causes of the poverty that plagues these families—has really not started yet. In part, that is because Congress is working at top speed to get relief packages out the door, and that is good. But we all hope for—and need to work for—deeper discussion of poverty in this country once the most urgent needs are addressed.

Anonymous: Why can't the federal gov't send $60 billion to every poor urban area to help reduce poverty? We seem to have limitless funds for Iraq.

Jill: What 9/11 copies strategies apply to the Katrina situation? Coping mechanisms for terror vs. natural disasters seem like they might be a lot different...

Elizabeth: While there are differences between 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, many of the same coping strategies apply to both situations. For children, it is important to reassure them that they are safe and answer any questions that they may have honestly, in terms that they understand. Keeping to normal routines and bedtimes also help children regain a sense of control over the situation. After a tragedy, children need outlets like playing, exercising, listening to music to help them relax. Children may want to stay close to you and spending extra time playing with them, hugging them, and giving them reassurance goes a long way. Also, children really respond well when they have activities that give them the sense that they have control over the situation. Getting a child involved in a penny drive at school, writing letters to people who are affected, or creating a "Tree of Life" with the things that they are thankful for can go a long way in helping them feel better.

Mary, Maryland: Is anyone but me worried about people who desperately want to adopt kids trying a little too hard to foster—before there's even been a chance to reunite families?

Since every adoption can happen only after the birth parents have relinquished their parental rights or those rights have been terminated by a judge, I think the risk is small that children will be adopted instead of reunited. There are definitely people who want to foster these children until they are reunited—I've received inquiries from some—and that is good. These children need all the love and attention and normalcy they can get while we work to find their families.

Jan: A call center that will refer callers to appropriate medical specialties is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at telephone number 1-866-887-2842.

Thomas: Why are advocates itching to make this storm a political issue—it was a natural disaster for Pete's sake!

Jan: You're right. Hurricane Katrina was a natural disaster, but one that was predicted. I think a lot of people are angry that the authorities didn't seem to do a good job in making sure people were well protected (by the levees, etc.), that evacuations were poorly planned or poorly implemented especially for families without the resources to get out, and angry at the slow, ad hoc response to help people get emergency assistance in the wake of the disaster.

Ann Arbor, MI: What was the toughest part for you in helping kids deal with 9/11—and how will you work specifically on behalf of kids affected by Katrina?

Elizabeth: In the early days after September 11th, the shear magnitude of the attacks made it difficult for people to know where to begin helping students. Our team decided to partner with multiple schools close to Ground Zero to provide students, teachers and school staff with mental health services. In some cases, we had pre-existing relationships with schools and already knew the school culture, their students, teachers and school staff. In these schools it was often easier to identify pre-existing resources and begin the process of helping students recover. In other cases, we were simultaneously building a relationship with the school while assessing and responding to their needs. The time spent developing these relationships and programs was well worth the effort, though. It enabled us to provide services that are tailored to each school's needs, and as a result, our services are more effective.

foster mom: Is Connect for Kids able to help those interested in fostering?

Jan: We have gotten a lot of emails from people who are interested in offering their homes to foster a child or family displaced by Katrina. We have been encouraging people to contact their state child welfare office to give them direction on how to proceed.

Jamie Peterson, Ames, WA: Elizabeth—how long did it take for kids to recover from 9/11? How are they now?

Elizabeth: Children recovered at different speeds, depending on factors like their personality, how close they were to Ground Zero, and if they knew someone who died in the attacks.

The majority of kids had some emotional difficulties in the weeks and months following 9/11; however over time, and in some cases, with professional help these students are feeling better. The good news is that most kids are resilient and are doing much better.

W.K., New Orleans Well, I used to live in New Orleans. Our family is displaced and living with friends in California. Just know, this sucks—and we blame no one in particular. We just want to go home.

Jan I can't imagine what it's like to lose everything, and so quickly. It certainly helps to have good friends but it doesn't take the place of home. I can only say that our country seems to be united in the face of this tragedy, and determined to help people rebuild their homes, their communities and their lives.

Jan, CFK: In the wake of the Katrina disaster a lot of politicians are saying we need to relax regulations so that we can speed help to distressed children and families. There is a debate, for example, over whether requirements should be relaxed so federal funds can help displaced families pay for private schools. Or whether schools in Houston or elsewhere should have to abide by McKinney-Vento regulations that oblige schools to ease enrollments for homeless children. What kinds of changes in regulations make sense to you, and what kinds of changes do you think will do more harm than good?

Debbie: That's a good question. I think you need to look at the purpose of the requirement. Is it designed to protect the children, or to make administration more efficient or economical? If it's for the protection of children, the requirement should not be waived. For example, the McKinney-Vento regulations require children to be placed in a regular school, and not segregated into special schools for the homeless, so that they are not stigmatized and can access all the programs and services. It also requires that children be allowed to keep attending the first school they are enrolled in, instead of being moved from school to school every time their parents have to move the family from shelter to shelter. Those regulations are for the best interests of the child, and should not be waived. But other regulations are for the protection of government funds, to ensure efficiency, or other governmental interests. It may make sense to waive those. For example, there are requirements about what documents people need to receive food stamps or Medicaid, like proof of identity. It makes sense to temporarily relax those rules when so many people have had their records lost and destroyed, and when the agencies that can issue new documents are no longer functioning.

Clearly the requirement that schools must ease enrollments for homeless children helps kids get back into school promptly. That is important not only for their education but also for their sense of stability. So that provision should not be waived; instead, we should be providing supports for schools to enroll kids quickly. It seems the state of Texas has waived its maximum class size rule. That makes sense to waive temporarily, until they can hire new teachers and outfit new classrooms, so that they can enroll these children right away.

Liz Chase: When my family was flooded out of our home in 1966, we lost everything except the clothes on our backs and were able to recover a sewing machine. As a six year old, I remember the flood, my brother discovering it and the two of us waking up the family. For years I was angry because my mother wouldn't let me wear my rainboots and put them on my little sister. As we snugged our bodies against the house to stay clear of the septic tank, I saw that my mother was carrying my little sister. My dry boots dangled from her feet. I was also grateful every time I saw a mousetrap and it was NOT floating in the flood in our house. It's surprising what sticks in kids minds.

Elizabeth: Your story is a great example of how young children can be impacted by a flood or a hurricane and what sticks out in their mind most about those times.

Sometimes adults are suprised at what aspects of a tragedy traumatize kids, which is why it is so important for adults to have open discussions with their children about what happened and how they are feeling. Find out is the first step in helping them heal.

Waverly, VA: The students coming into our area are being served under a law called McKinney-Vento. What can this do for students affected by the hurricane? How is this law being applied to them?

Debbie: The McKinney-Vento Act is a law that ensures that school districts serve homeless children. Under that law, children must be enrolled immediately when they register for public school, even if they don't have the necessary papers and even if they don't have a parent or guardian with them. Once they are enrolled, the school must help them obtain the necessary papers from their prior school. Among other rights, homeless children are entitled to stay in the same school, even if their family moves, until the end of the academic year in which the family finds a permanent residence; they also must be included in the general school population and not taught in a separate school for the homeless. The federal Department of Education has issued guidance that makes it clear that the provisions of the McKinney-Vento Act apply to evacuated children. Since McKinney-Vento has been law for a long time, most school systems should know how to apply it properly. However, some school systems may not be fully in compliance—particularly those with lots of evacuees to serve. A related law that is also important for evacuated children's education is IDEA, the federal law which governs the education of homeless disabled children.

While these children do get special protections under IDEA, as a practical matter states may have to do entirely new assessments and develop new Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and 504 plans (accommodations to be provided to the disabled student) since their original IEPS and 504 plans may be destroyed or lost. This could take a lot of time and make it much harder for disabled children to get the free appropriate education to which they are entitled by law, again especially in school systems which are absorbing a lot of new registrants.

The state of Louisiana is trying to make electronic databases available to help with the registration of displaced children; you can learn more about those efforts at the Web site of the Louisiana Department of Education.

Montana: Is Medicaid/care on the chopping block?

Debbie: Before Katrina, Congress was planning to cut at least $10 billion from Medicaid in September—and some of the cuts under consideration would have meant millions of kids could not see a doctor when they needed it. In particular, the National Governors' Association was suggesting that states be allowed to charge parents premiums and copayments—something that we know reduces by almost half the number of kids who get the care they need. They were also suggesting that states be allowed to decide which medical benefits kids could get—instead of current law which says they should get all the medically necessary care to diagnose and treat health problems.

Now Congress has decided to delay those cuts, and cuts to food stamps that would mean more children go hungry, until mid-October. Child advocates around the country are asking Congress to stop those cuts—not just delay them. And some Senators, from both parties, are also saying that the cuts should be delayed indefinitely or not happen at all. So, yes, it's on the chopping block—and we are fighting to take away the ax.

Susan, Orlando: I feel so helpless. I want to provide support (more than money), but I just feel lost. I can't foster, but I want to help.

Jan: There are lots of ways to help! Think about it in terms of immediate needs, rebuilding needs and what's in store for the long term so we can do a better job in the future in protecting and assisting devastated families.

To help with immediate needs, you might be able to find your niche by checking out the websites on CFK's Coping with Katrina page.
A lot of churches, charities and public agencies are working together—you may be able to find your niche by starting with your local agencies to find out what they know about organizations on the ground in the Gulf.

For the longer term, we need to be sure we understand what went well and what went wrong in the relief efforts and as we look forward to planning for the future.

B. Cox, Jackson Mississippi: What is the plan to encourage funders to provide resources for the policy and advocacy work so essential to assure that the governmental, business and philanthropic dollars go to those most in need?

Debbie: That's an interesting question. So far, I am unaware of any plan by funders to coordinate their efforts. Individual foundations have definitely met to try to determine how to support grantees in those areas, but not necessarily with a focus on advocacy. At the national level, many organizations are working to ensure that governmental resources go to those most in need.

These organizations may have resources targeted toward hurricane relief. In many cases, while they don't have resources targeted to this issue, they have general support grants, funding that allows them to be flexible within their general areas of work, or they may have approached a funder to request permission to restructure a work plan. At the state level, some advocacy organizations were within the hurricane areas and are just beginning to restore their capacity to work.

There are several funder affinity groups that could organize a more structured plan to support good advocacy and policy around Hurricane relief. The two that come immediately to mind are the Grantmakers in Children, Youth and Families, and the Grantmakers in Income Security Task Force. It is possible that they are having internal discussions around this issue, of which I am unaware.

Grace Bauer, Louisiana: There are many children in lockdown facilities throughout the state in state care. What can be done inside lockdown facilities to help these all ready at risk children?

Jan This is a very good question—in fact Louisiana was in the process of reforming its juvenile justice system so that young people could be housed in humane facilities where they could get the education, drug treatment and mental health services they needed. I understand that with the destruction of the major juvenile justice facility in Louisiana, there is a lot of planning going into how to rebuild in a way that serves these young people better. Meanwhile, unfortunately, a lot of young people are doubled up in nearby facilities.

curious: Will poverty be on Bush's agenda for the rest of his term?

Jan: A lot of people are wondering the same thing. Katrina's aftermath certainly put a human face on families in poverty, and there are a lot of people wondering what kind of country we are when we fail to take care of our own who desperately need our help. There are millions of children living with families who can't get enough to eat or safe housing — many of us hope that the outpouring of compassion for Katrina's victims translates into a sustained effort to mitigate the impact of poverty on families throughout our wealthy land.

Fred Rickman: What is being done to provide displaced children with mentors during this time?

Debbie: There may be some state efforts to provide displaced children with mentors.
I am unaware of any federal efforts. I do want to point out a consequence of the hurricane that has not drawn wide attention. Your question suggests that many displaced children are not with their parents or guardians. There is a significant group of children who were evacuated along with foster parents. They are now separated from their biological parents, and their foster parents may have trouble contacting the state agencies to continue to receive foster care support—or may no longer be able or willing to provide foster care. The legal status of these children is not entirely clear, since they are the wards of one state but now living in another. Congress is considering legislation to try to address the needs of these children.

Jaime, Virginia: I'd like to think poverty has the attention of both parties now.

Jan: I think you are right. Regardless of party, Americans are more united in wanting to make sure families get the help they need. Beyond that people will surely differ over who should provide that help, how to make sure funds are spent wisely and planfully, or how to pay for it all.

Washington, DC: I understand the urgency for Congress to move money quickly to so families can get the emergency help they need. I also understand how big a task it will be to help evacuated and displaced families get on their feet and rebuild their lives. This will cost a lot of money. How do we pay for it all?

Debbie: Some estimates suggest that the response to the hurricane could cost as much as $200 billion; we have spent over $60 billion so far. There are basically three places this money can come from; cutting spending on other items, raising revenues, and increasing the deficit. Congress has to decide which of these approaches—or a combination—they should use. Children's advocates are concerned that if Congress decides to cut spending, they will cut programs like Food Stamps and Medicaid which children depend on—and which are currently slated for $13 billion in cuts later this fall. Voices for America's Children and many other child advocates support canceling the new tax cuts which are planned for later this fall—which would save $70 billion in revenues—and refusing to cut other taxes that are also under consideration. The President and some members of Congress have said they want to pay for all of it by cutting spending, but a growing number of members of Congress are saying that in the face of this disaster we should not continue with the planned tax cuts. If you have an opinion about where we should find the money, this is an important time to let your Senators and Representatives know, as this is very much an undecided question right now.

Washington, DC: There are a lot of churches and charities doing a lot of work to help displaced families. Does this mean that conservatives are right when they say government should get out of the way and let private charities take care of people?

Debbie: No. Charities have already raised about $1 billion dollars, and probably will spend money in addition to what they raise specifically for Katrina. The charitable response is wonderful, and very important. But compare that to how much the federal government has already spent (over $60 billion) and how much is needed (perhaps as much as $200 billion). In the face of a crisis as big as this, no individual charity—and not even the entire charitable community—has the resources to respond adequately. It takes all of us—working through our government—to meet the need.

Susan, CFK: Debbie, what are some of the main steps government agencies have taken to make it easier for families to get help?

Debbie: Most government agencies have taken steps to make it easier. And Congress is considering legislation that also will help.

—Health care: The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare has adoped a series of emergency policy changes that make it easier to enroll families in Medicaid and SCHIP. They have declared a public health emergency for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, which makes it easier to waive regulations and enter into contracts to provide services. They have also given Texas a waiver, and encouraged other states to apply for waivers, that will help states serve families. But states would still bear much of the health costs; the Senate is considering legislation that would make the federal government pay 100% of the health costs. Kids also can get free vaccines.

—Mental health services: HHS has set up a toll-free hotline for people in crisis—1-800-273-TALK, which will connect people to local crisis centers for counciling.

—Head Start and child care. HHS released $15 million in additional Head Start funds to help Head Start centers serve evacuated children for the next 30 days. They also identified a number of ways that states could provide child care subsidies and help set up child care centers using CCDBG funds, but since most states already have waitlists for those funds, this provision only means that evacuee children will be served at the expense of other children. The Senate is considering a small additional allocation of funds. This is clearly an area of great need.

—K12 Education. The Department of Education has reminded all the states that homeless children—including all the evacuees—are entitled to be enrolled in public schools immediately and to have the school system help them locate necessary documents from their previous school. And the state of Louisiana is working to provide information to the schools where these children are now. But children with special needs may have a hard time getting their special services if they don't have copies of their IEPs or 504 plans. The Department of Education has also taken steps to make sure that higher education students who can't attend the school they were enrolled in are not considered to be in default on their loans.

Food Stamps and Child Nutrition Programs: The food stamp program already has a special emergency food stamp program, that is working well. And the Department of Agriculture has also made it easier to serve kids in programs like school meals and child care food programs.

Washington, DC: Deborah, why did it take a hurricane to get poverty on the front page!? I mean, what the heck, lots of us see it everyday!!

Debbie: Yes, but many people tend to close their eyes, or blame people for their own poverty. This event made it clear that poor people work hard and still can't escape a hurricane for lack of gas money.

Maine: My kids are literally freaking out over Rita—even though we live in Maine. I try to tell them that it's OK, and people will be OK, but what other advice to you have?

Elizabeth Reassuring them that they are OK and it is extremely unlikely that Hurricane Rita will hit Maine is a great first step. Children can become clingy and even irritable when they are stressed, and spending extra time with them can help them feel better. If your children are young, they may wish to sleep in your bed with you at night. This is OK for a while, but make sure they get back to their normal routine as soon as possible. For older children, talking about their fears and helping them remember how they helped themselves feel better when they have been scared before can help. I know I have said this before, but finding ways to help with the relief effort can also empower them and help them feel better.

Finally, if your children are still having difficulties, you may look into getting help from someone outside the family like a school guidance counselor or other mental health professional. Children who are not directly affected by the storms can still be traumatized by it, so don't hesitate to reach out to others.

Take care, everyone!