September is National Preparedness Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time — with or without warning. During this month, all Americans and communities are encouraged to take steps to prepare for natural and human-made threats.
Disasters come in many forms, causing both unpredictable and unprecedented challenges. In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to affect the entire world, our country, just in the past year, has experienced the devastation of tornadoes in the south; historic flooding in southern and eastern Kentucky; and fires, severe winter storms, and record-breaking heat waves across the country. We also know that the expanding impacts of the climate crisis are fueling historic droughts and wildfires, while exacerbating flooding and creating dangerous heat waves.
Every day, ACF works with our stakeholders as well as our local, state, and federal partners, including our sister Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies, to provide support to children, youth, individuals, families, and communities through our programs. Our overall goal is strengthening their social and economic well-being. These efforts become even more important when emergencies and disasters strike.
Before, during, and after disasters, ACF programs support a wide range of human services. Our emergency and disaster operations, led by the Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR), promote the resilience of vulnerable individuals, children, families, and communities impacted by disasters and public health emergencies. OHSEPR provides disaster human services expertise to ACF grantees, partners, and stakeholders during preparedness, response, and recovery operations for emergency and disaster events. OHSEPR’s commitment to “building a culture of preparedness” is part of our public messaging this month to help raise preparedness awareness and increase access to technical assistance to our human services network before, during, and after disasters and public health emergencies.
The centerpiece of OSHEPR’s work is developing disaster capabilities for human and social service partners — enhancing knowledge and collaboration across service providers — to prepare for action during crises and emergencies. This is closely related to their role in informing, supporting, and guiding social service providers in creating disaster communities of practice within and across disciplines.
This month provides an opportunity to promote a culture of readiness and engage in activities that support communities most at risk for the impacts of disaster. We are acutely aware that disasters often disproportionately affect families and communities already experiencing daily challenges. Providing appropriately targeted support to these vulnerable communities is crucial for their recovery and well-being. You can do your part by reviewing OHSEPR’s resources and learning more about what you can do to build a culture of preparedness at ACF and your community. If you haven’t already, you may also want to learn about preparing your own home for an emergency.
While the evolving disaster landscape is challenging, we do not lose sight of what is within our power — the ability to strengthen parts of the existing safety net through effective ACF programs and services, and to train and equip our human services network to achieve equitable recovery outcomes for the children, youth, individuals, families, and communities that ACF serves.