Description of Collaborative Activity: |
The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) is responsible for a wide range of activities that include monitoring for emerging issues and concerns as they relate to medical and public health preparedness and response; developing, overseeing, and providing guidance for implementation of national preparedness goals for disasters of all types at the federal, state and local levels; identifying, conducting responses to, and recovery from public health and medical emergencies; assisting other federal agencies responsible for aspects of planning for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies; and taking into account the special physical, psychological, emotional, and behavioral needs of children. On behalf of HHS, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) leads public health and medical planning for, response to, and recovery from disasters and public health emergencies in accordance with the National Response Framework Emergency Support Function (ESF) #8 (Public Health and Medical Services). Additionally, the federal responsibilities and partnerships described in ESF #6 (Mass Care, Emergency Assistance, Housing, and Human Services) and the Health and Social Services Recovery Support Function are critical to comprehensive consideration of issues related to children and disasters. The NACCD shall provide advice and consultation to the Secretary of HHS to assist him in carrying out these and related activities as they pertain to the unique needs of children in preparation for, responses to, and recovery from disasters. The NACCD shall evaluate issues and programs and provide findings, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS in accordance with FACA to support and enhance all-hazards public health and medical preparedness, response activities, and recovery aimed at meeting the unique needs of children, in a developmentally and socially appropriate manner, across the entire spectrum of their physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral wellbeing. |
