Across the country, parents, teachers, program leaders, youth advocates, and many others are taking steps to teach the youth of our nation how to be prepared for disasters and emergencies. Whether taught in classrooms, after-school programs, youth groups, or any other venue, preparedness skills can make a huge difference in children’s ability to keep themselves and others safe in the event of an emergency. Learning about preparedness can also help reduce children’s anxiety about potential disasters.
FEMA supports youth preparedness wherever it is taught, and developed a Technical Assistance Center to support those undertaking this important work.
Please join us on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 2:00 PM EDT for a free webinar to learn about the tools and resources that are available through the Youth Preparedness Technical Assistance Center. You will also find out how you can receive individualized support by directly contacting our Technical Assistance providers
FEMA offers a full range of TA services to individuals starting or operating youth preparedness programs, as well as individuals who have general interest in youth preparedness. Technical assistance providers are ready to answer individual questions and have built a variety of tools and resources that are available to the public.
- By emailing [email protected], people can get answers to general questions and/or individualized assistance for their youth preparedness programs.
- If you wish to work with or have questions about FEMA’s Youth Preparedness Council, email [email protected].
Youth preparedness tools and resources (several of which are described below) can be found at http://www.ready.gov/youth-preparedness or by emailing the TA Center.
What can TA do for you?
The TA Center is designed to support both you and the programs with which you work. Please consider contacting the TA Center in any of the following situations, or any other scenarios where you think we could be of assistance:
- A youth preparedness program would like more information about or could benefit from some of the tools and resources that are available (the available tools and resources are explained below).
- You learn about a youth preparedness program or resource that should be included in the Catalogue of Youth Disaster Preparedness Education Resources. The Catalogue identifies existing programs, curricula, and resources that may be of interest to those starting (or interested in finding) youth preparedness programs.
- You have a story or idea for the Children and Disasters Newsletter or the Youth Preparedness Council Newsletter.
- You have information about an event at which a Youth Preparedness Council member might want to speak.
- A youth preparedness program in your region would like to order STEP or Teen CERT materials.
We also want to keep you apprised of any technical assistance that relates to programs or individuals in your region. In some cases, we may direct those requesting TA to their region for more specific information. You may receive emails from the TA Center such as the following:
- Copies of responses to emails from your region.
- Copies of emails to the Youth Preparedness Council member(s) from your region.
- Information related to Youth Preparedness Council activities, including conference call agendas, newsletters, and other materials.
What tools are available from TA?
You may work with or get questions from individuals who are starting or operating youth preparedness programs. A number of tools and resources that are available through technical assistance may be of assistance to them, including but not limited to the following:
- Youth Preparedness: Implementing a Community-Based Program: Provides information about high-level steps for implementing a youth preparedness program.
- Catalogue of Youth Disaster Preparedness Education Resources : Identifies existing programs, curricula, and resources that may be of interest to those starting (or interested in finding) youth preparedness programs.
- Youth Preparedness Program Supplemental Implementation Tools:
- Youth Preparedness Program Implementation Workbook: Helps program managers work through both brainstorming and implementing each of the steps discussed in Youth Preparedness: Implementing a Community-Based Program.
- Youth Preparedness Program Implementation Checklist: Helps ensure that program managers have thoroughly completed each of the implementation steps discussed in Youth Preparedness: Implementing a Community-Based Program.
- Youth Preparedness Funding Guide: Provides information about securing funding and resources for a program.
- Youth Preparedness Quick Tips to Mitigate Risks: Provides a quick overview of basic strategies to manage key risks that a program might face.
- Youth Preparedness Guide to Risk Management: Helps program managers identify potential risks associated with their programs, as well as techniques to mitigate those risks.
By making technical assistance available to individuals who are interested in youth preparedness, we hope to increase the number and effectiveness of youth preparedness programs throughout the country. As you go about your daily work, you are in a great position to identify people who might benefit from the TA program, and we encourage you to direct them to either [email protected] or [email protected]. Similarly, we hope that the centralized Youth Preparedness Council email address will help facilitate Council activities.