The Mission

The Critical Response Child Care (CRC) team is a group of experienced Children's Disaster Services volunteers who have received advanced, specialized training that prepares them to work with grieving and traumatized children following an aviation incident or other mass casualty event. The presence of a compassionate care giver, along with carefully selected play activities, can greatly impact the recovery process of a child who has experienced loss or trauma.

A six-member team is on call each month, ready to travel within four hours of requested deployment by the American Red Cross (ARC). Depending on the type of disaster or incident, the ARC, National Transportation Safety Board or Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Office for Victims Assistance will set up a Family Assistance Center. In this center, families impacted by the incident participate in daily briefings and receive support and counseling from the ARC. As part of this support, ARC chose Children's Disaster Services as the agency to provide child care in their Family Assistance Center. This partnership allows both agencies to ensure that children’s needs are being met in an appropriate and compassionate manner.

Purpose of CRC:

• To ensure a safe and secure environment in which children can play and rest.
  
• To provide structure, comfort and support to meet the unique needs of traumatized children.
  
• To minimize the impact of traumatic stress on children.
  
• To provide parents time to attend briefings, seek support, grieve, and attend to disaster related tasks/decisions.
  
• To support each child’s family as the primary resource for that child - offering services without intervening or presuring family members.

CRC Personnel Are: