CAMH Disaster-related resources

PHII, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed a suite of resources to help state, tribal, local, and territorial (STLT) public health agencies strengthen their disaster-related surveillance efforts before, during, and after a natural disaster. This is a comprehensive initiative to build STLT agencies’ capacity to identify key child and adolescent mental health (CAMH) indicators, access relevant data, and use these data to inform the development and implementation of effective disaster response strategies. Public health agencies can take proactive steps to formalize surveillance practices, establish sustainable partnerships, and prioritize mental health within emergency planning efforts.

DISASTER-RELATED CAMH Resources

These resources align with the Response Readiness Framework Priorities outlined by CDC’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness program and can help STLT agencies meet the 2024-2028 requirements for a natural disaster.

DISASTER-RELATED CAMH SURVEILLANCE FRAMEWORK: A PRIMER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES

This Framework serves as a foundational resource for public health practitioners seeking to use public health surveillance data to monitor and respond to CAMH needs of school-aged children (5-17 years old) in the context of natural disasters. This document emphasizes the strategic use of data to inform public health decision-making, CAMH disaster preparedness efforts, and response strategies rather than focusing on the direct identification and provision of CAMH services.
Access Framework

INDICATORS AND DATA SOURCES TABLE | DISASTER-RELATED CAMH SURVEILLANCE

This table features interactive query tabs allowing users to cross-reference potential data sources with corresponding indicators. Full and direct-indicator tables organize metrics by domain, CAMH proximity, collection periodicity, and preparedness phase. Domains include: mental health and well-being, family and community resilience and risk, and economic stability. Dedicated tabs also provide external references for deeper context on specific data sources.
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SITUATION MANUAL (SITMAN)​ | DISASTER-RELATED CAMH SURVEILLANCE

This situation manual (SITMAN) includes three injects to provide a learning environment for participants to exercise/discuss emergency response plans, policies, and procedures for conducting CAMH disaster surveillance in preparation for, response to, and recovery from a natural disaster.
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INTRODUCTORY OVERVIEW SLIDES | DISASTER-RELATED CAMH SURVEILLANCE TABLETOP EXERCISE (TTX)

These slides provide background of CAMH with instructions on how to conduct a disaster-related CAMH Surveillance Tabletop Exercise (TTX). Gives an overview of TTX objectives and provides structure details.
Download TTX OVERVIEW SLIDES

FACILITATION GUIDE FOR IN-PERSON EXERCISE | DISASTER-RELATED CAMH SURVEILLANCE TABLETOP EXERCISE (TTX)

This guide demonstrates how to insert three injects into a tabletop exercise (TTX). The injects are intended to help local health departments conduct a structured discussion-based exercise specific to disaster-related CAMH surveillance. This document provides guidance to assist the exercise facilitator(s).
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FACILITATION SLIDES FOR IN-PERSON EXERCISE | DISASTER-RELATED CAMH SURVEILLANCE TABLETOP EXERCISE (TTX)

These slides accompany the Facilitation Guide for in-person tabletop exercise (TTX). They lead exercise facilitator(s) through conducting an in-person group, including a pre-exercise self-assessment, CAHM overview, TTX overview, three injects, hot wash, and a post-exercise self-assessment.
Download facilitation slides

PLAYER HANDOUT TEMPLATE | DISASTER-RELATED CAMH SURVEILLANCE TABLETOP EXERCISE (TTX)

This document is designed as an editable template to distribute to in-person exercise participants. Includes discussion questions for each inject scenario.
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These resources were developed by PHII, through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number 5 NU38PW000002.

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PHII developed the CAMH disaster-related resources in collaboration with CDC to support public health agencies in improving their CAMH surveillance activities before, during, and after a natural disaster. We invite you to share your suggestions that could help us identify further improvement opportunities by using our form at Contact PHII (opens in new tab).

For questions about the CAMH disaster-related surveillance project or the resources on this page,
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PHII is a program of The Task Force for Global Health, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that was founded as The Task Force for Child Survival in 1984. The Task Force is affiliated with Emory University.