Description of Collaborative Activity: |
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of more than 64,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. For more information, see the AAP Fact Sheet. The AAP formed a Work Group on Disasters in 1993 to develop resources on the psychosocial needs of child disaster victims that could be sent to pediatricians if there was a disaster in their community. In 2001, the AAP established a Task Force on Terrorism to manage follow-up efforts regarding the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and issues related to anthrax. The AAP then established a Disaster Preparedness Team that focused on Hurricane Katrina follow-up and clarified the AAP role in reunification, rescue, and recovery. In 2006, the AAP Board of Directors identified disaster preparedness as 1 of 7 priority issues requiring special attention and resources. The AAP appointed the Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council (DPAC) in May 2007 to establish a focused effort within the AAP to 1) Develop and implement a 3-5 year AAP Strategic Plan for Disaster Preparedness; 2) Oversee/support AAP disaster preparedness initiatives while working collaboratively with AAP committees, sections, and councils and key partner organizations; and 3) Strengthen AAP advocacy and policy efforts, which include responding to inquiries as appropriate, identifying opportunities for advocacy such as providing Congressional testimony and offering comments on federal regulations, and mobilizing a Contact Network. In 2010, the AAP conducted an opinion poll on children and disasters. Key issues the AAP is addressing include: •Ensuring that children’s issues are addressed as early as possible in the development of disaster preparedness programs and activities. •Involving pediatric experts in all levels of disaster planning and response (medical home to national levels). •Supporting AAP Chapters and members to integrate pediatric issues into state plans. If you would like a copy of the most recent DPAC meeting minutes, please e-mail DisasterReady@aap.org. The DPAC members recognize that “disaster medicine” is a topic that crosses many other AAP groups. Currently, more than 600 AAP members with an interest, involvement, and/or expertise in disaster preparedness have been identified. These members receive the AAP Children & Disasters newsletter, free disaster-related print materials, and other disaster-related communication through an electronic mailing list. If you would like to be included on this list, e-mail DisasterReady@aap.org. This Web site represents one step to ensure that all pediatricians and other health professionals, parents, caregivers and teachers, policymakers, and communities have the information they need when they need it. This includes a new Web page that highlights progress made in children’s preparedness since Hurricane Katrina. The AAP Tomorrow’s Children Endowment Fund supports this Web site and other disaster preparedness initiatives. We hope that you find it to be a valuable resource! |
