When you think of an emergency, naturally FEMA or Red Cross come to mind. However, ACF, plays a critical role in emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts. Primarily through the Office of Human Services, Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR), we work with ACF-supported human services programs and grantees to ensure continuity of service delivery, improve outcomes for client populations, and meet surge requirements for new disaster-caused needs. Other ACF programs, like Early Childhood Development, Head Start, and Child Care, play vital roles in helping children, families, and communities bounce back following a disaster.
Background
Following Hurricane Katrina, the White House recommended that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) coordinate with other departments of the Executive Branch, State governments and non-governmental organizations to develop a robust, comprehensive, and integrated system to deliver human services during disasters. In 2006, the Secretary of Health and Human Services tasked ACF to coordinate with other HHS agencies to develop this capacity.