Worcester Regional and Greater Grafton MRCs Proudly Present: Protecting Children in Disasters

Presented virtually Wednesday, June 5, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM

This training will complement the Shelter Exercise and Shelter Fundamentals training and will focus on the following:

1. Develop a shared understanding of the definition of a “child” from the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child.

2. Discuss the current state of research on children and disasters, focusing on what we can do to lessen their vulnerability, particularly in shelters and at hospitals. 

3. Explore lessons learned from the Haiti deployment; knowledge gaps that may have led to increased vulnerability for children -In hopes that nobody else will repeat them.

   1. Need for Child Friendly Spaces (CSF); Designation of Safe Adults; Education – Creating a Semblance of Normalcy

4. Explore the experience of children in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 

5. Identify the practical steps we can take to potentially improve outcomes for children.

Our presenter is James F. Goss, DHA, AEM and paramedic with 27 years of experience as an emergency responder and emergency manager. James has his Doctorate in Healthcare Administration, a professor at MCPHS where one of the things he teaches is healthcare emergency management AND he is an MRC volunteer! We are thrilled to be able to offer to you his expertise and knowledge and hope that many of you will join us.

Pre-registration is required by  June 3, 2024 by contacting:                                        

 loisluniewicz@comcast.net  or devriesm@grafton-ma.gov

THANK YOU!