In this time of war and uncertainty, remember that children are looking to the significant adults in their lives for cues on coping and feelings of safety and security. As adults caring for children, we need to manage our own feelings and reactions carefully to ensure that we're providing the best possible models for behavior, even though many of us are coping with unprecedented events and subsequent emotions in our lives. Child & Family Resources offers the following links to information that parents and caregivers can use as guidelines for navigating and managing difficult issues.

Resources for Parents, Caregivers, and Educators: Strategies for helping children understand and cope with war and terror. Includes age-specific guidelines, information on promoting tolerance and comforting children, and links to additional resources.

Guidelines For Helping Children During The War - Diane Levin, Child Psychologist and Professor of Education, Wheelock College, for TRUCE (Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children's Entertainment).

www.mediafamily.org - "Talking with Children About War", National Institute on Media and the Family.
If you're worried about how your children are dealing with the specter of war and terrorism, Dr. Dave's tips will help you guide your children through the potential conflicts and events ahead. Learn how to react to your children's feelings and fears and find coping strategies for all age groups.

www.nctsnet.org - Talking to Children about War and Terrorism, National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
With the ongoing war on terrorism and the current war with Iraq, children may have concerns about what is happening and how it may affect them and their families. This guide outlines issues to consider as well as tips for talking with children of all ages.

www.aap.org - Family Readiness Kit: Preparing to Handle Disasters, American Academy of Pediatrics.
The Family Readiness Kit was developed after talking with over 250 families, like yours. The ideas they shared were used to make a set of materials which reflect the needs of most families. Even though all families are unique, this information helps most of us to understand the basic information about preparing for a disaster.

www.helping.apa.org - Resilience in a Time of War Articles", American Psychological Association.
You teach children so much: how to walk, how to talk, how to share. You may wonder how you can possibly teach them and reassure them about a time of war. These articles offer tips for parents and teachers that foster resilience in preschool, elementary, middle school children as well as teens.

www.zerotothree.org - Little Listeners in an Uncertain World: Coping Strategies for you and your Infant & Toddler, Zero to Three.
ZERO TO THREE is a national nonprofit dedicated to promoting the healthy social, emotional and intellectual development of our nation's babies and toddlers. These articles offer parents of babies and toddlers information and guidance for coping at this challenging time.

Estrategias Para Los Padres Ayudar A Los Hijos En Epocas Traumáticos - Servicio de Familia de Morris

Taking Care In Troubled Times: Dealing with Fear, Anxiety and Uncertainty - Press Release, Child & Family Resources

Print Brochure (PDF)
*Taking Care In Troubled Times Dealing with Fear, Anxiety and Uncertainty


Resources for Child Care and School-Age Child Care Programs: At our recent all-day conference on for Child Care Programs on Preparing for Unexpected Emergencies, the following resources were requested or shared with participating programs.

Our special thanks to Commerce Bank for their generous support of the this important, timely Conference!

Major Points to Remember: PLAN, PRACTICE, REVISE

Invite Staff & Parents to participate in a review and enhancement of your emergency plan:
·  3 Perspectives are better than 1 and most likely to work the best in event of an emergency

Update contact information: 3 deep contact (parents/family; neighbors; friends)
·  Pick-up authority: include parents of other children in the center or neighbors for special emergencies

Delegate: Share responsibilities for phone contacts, staff and children
·  Center Buddy System: Partner with another center to help with phone calls and in the event of an evacuation
·  Parent phone chain for contacts
·  Staff coordination of plan

Organize emergency supplies by classroom---age appropriate materials
·  Ease of transport: Back packs; wheeled duffel bags

Know your local emergency contacts: Emergency Management person, police, fire, first aid
·  Do they know where you are?
·  Numbers of children present?
·  Transportation challenges if evacuation required

Additional Thoughts:
·  Personal Family Emergency Plan: Have your own plan in place in the event you must stay with your center later than usual.
·  Perspective: Bio-terror event very unlikely

Terminology that has created anxiety:
·  Shelter in Place: Ice storm, propane tank explosion, downed power lines may require that you stay at your Center longer than usual
·  Declaration of "State of Emergency": Allows government to request reimbursement for expenses; does not automatically mean you can't be out on the roads; travel may be limited or restricted

The following are sample emergency plans to assist the child care Director and staff in responding to emergency situations, provide information that can be used with family members concerning emergency planning, and provide a basis for restoration of services. Also, local emergency management contacts in Morris County are available.

*Ready to Respond Emergency Preparedness Plan for Early Care and Education Centers (PDF)
Bright Horizons Family Solutions

www.morrisarearedcross.org - Together We Prepare, Morris Area Red Cross Together, We Prepare is an initiative to ready every person, and every family while helping to make our communities safer places to live and work in these uncertain times.

*Phone Tree Tool (PDF) - adapted from National Education Association Tool.

Morris County Municipal Emergency Management Contact Personnel