Emergency Preparedness for

Families with Children with Special

NeedsJessica McClusky

Ferris State University

OverviewAgency: Kent County Health DepartmentContact: Chris Buczek

Children’s Special Health Care Services SupervisorPopulation: Families with children with special needsTopic: Emergency and disaster preparedness

DefinitionSpecial Needs

Needing support beyond the average childHaving or at risk for chronic conditions

PhysicalDevelopmentalBehavioralEmotional

DemographicsFrequently dependent on medications and medical equipment

Ventilators, oxygen, feeding pumps, wheelchairsDeteriorate more quickly from lack of equipment and suppliesComplex conditions and comorbidities

Demographics14% of United States children22% of United States householdsIncreasing over time16.1% of boys vs. 11.6% of girlsEqually distributed among income levelsMultiracial children have highest prevalence (18%), Asian children have the lowest (6.3%)Michigan:

15.4% of Michigan childrenHighest prevalence below poverty level (19.1%)

Learning NeedsPreparedness leads to better health outcomesPersonal interviews revealed reluctance to utilize large emergency planning packetsFamilies never considered the impact of a disaster situation

Behavioral ObjectivesThe target population will describe the need for an emergency or disaster plan for their familyThe target population will complete the provided emergency preparedness tool and discuss their plan as a familyThe target population will describe additional resources to access if needed for further preparedness needs

Care Model FrameworkThe Logic Model

Sync program objectives and outcomesEvaluate successesDetermine areas of improvementEnhance communication and collaboration

Intervention:Emergency Preparedness Planning Tool

1 page planning toolIntended to hang in prominent area in home

1 page educational summaryIntended to quickly discuss the who, what, where, when, why, and how of disaster planning

DistributionSocial Media

Facebook group for families with children with special needs300 members

Children’s Special Health Care Services e-mail list2,000 members

Kent County Community Wellness NursesKent County Health Department disaster preparedness coordinator

Unique Program TailorsConsideration of unique population needs

What is vital to these families?Varying education levels

Tool written below a 6th grade reading level

EvaluationFeedback received from:

Community Wellness NursesFamilies of children with special needs

Through Facebook and support groupChildren’s Special Health Care Services supervisor

EvaluationPositive feedback:

Length, easy to use, quick to fill out, visually appealing, eye catching, contains areas for necessary information

Areas for improvement:Room for more medications, include areas for parent phone number/address if different than child

ConclusionSmall tool, big impactPersonal thoughts

ReferencesAmerican Academy of Pediatrics. (2010). Emergency information forms and emergency preparedness for children with special health care needs. Pediatrics, 125, 829. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-0186Curley, A. L. & Vitale, P. A. (Eds.). (2011). Population-based nursing: Concepts and competencies for advanced practice. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.Dubose, C. (2011). The social media revolution. Radiologic Technology, 83(2), 112-119. Murray, J. S. (2011). Disaster preparedness for children with special healthcare needs and disabilities. Pediatric Nursing, 16, 226-232.Owens, J. K., Stidham, A. W., & Owens, E. L. (2013). Disaster evacuation for persons with special needs: A content analysis of information on YouTube. Applied Nursing Research, 26, 273-275.Safeer, R. S. & Keenan, J. (2005). Health literacy: The gap between physicians and patients. American Family Physician, 72(3), 463-468. United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). National survey of children with special health care needs. Retrieved from http://mchb.hrsa.gov/cshcn05/