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Mandate:
Canadian Disaster Child Care (CDCC) trains volunteers to provide specialized
childcare that focuses on using play to help children work through their
feelings and regain control over their environment following a disaster.
Workshop topics include: defining disaster (ranging from death in the family,
war, earthquakes, etc.); recovery stages; children's behaviours and how they
change in disaster; how we respond; celebrating cultural richness; empathetic
listening; setting up a child - centred space; and team building.
In
disaster response situations CDCC has gained valuable experience at various
locations. In Canada CDCC worked at shelters following the Montreal Ice Storm
and with Health Canada at four military sustainment sites with Kosovar children
who came to Canada under Operation Parasol, a response that was multidimensional
and sustained over a relatively long period of time. More recently volunteers
responded to the Tudor House Fire in Cranbrook, British Columbia and flooding in
Edmonton, Alberta. Since 1995 volunteers have provided child care at
the Edmonton Centre for Survivors of
Torture and Trauma (ECSTT). In
the United States our volunteers were activated following the Florida Hurricanes
in 2004, California earthquakes and flooding in Oregon, Washington and
Louisiana.
We Believe:
- That the child shall be among the first to receive aid in times of
disaster.
- That non-governmental organizations and social service agencies,
working together to prepare volunteers, can build a strong cooperative program
to serve the needs of children in disaster.
- That by providing space, appropriate activities, and trained child care
givers, children who have special needs following a disaster can experience
nurture, acceptance, emotional support and a measure of healing.
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CANADIAN DISASTER CHILD CARE SOCIETY