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Kitchen Conversations: How to Talk with Young Children About COVID-19

This pandemic has been a challenge for everyone. The COVID-19 outbreak has changed our daily lives in ways we never could have imagined. As a result, many of us are wearing multiple hats, including that of a homeschool teacher. Children learn from adults outside of scheduled school time, too. Kids are observant. They soak in Read More >

May 18, 2020 by Blog AdministratorLeave a comment

Disease Outbreak, General, mental health, natural disasters, personal health, preparedness, response

children, COVID-19, disaster, emergency, kids, mental health, outbreak, pandemic, Prep Your Health, prepardness

Protecting Our Future: Emergency Preparedness and Children’s Mental Health

Sad boy sitting against a brick wall with his face hidden

Among the many lessons learned during the 2017 Hurricane season, we recognized that addressing children’s mental and behavioral health needs is a major concern in hurricane-affected areas. CDC’s At Risk Task Force (ARTF) was established in 2017 to ensure identification and prioritization of the mental and physical health needs of at-risk populations, including children. ARTF’s Read More >

October 9, 2018 by Jessica Franks, MPH, CHES, Health Communications Fellow, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities; Rebecca Leeb, PhD, Acting Team Lead, Children’s Preparedness Unit, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities; Amy Wolkin, DrPH, MSPH, Vulnerable Populations Officer, Center for Preparedness and Response2 Comments

mental health, natural disasters, public health, response

At Risk Task Force, behavioral health, children, disaster, emergency, emergency response, Hurricane Harvey, mental health, world mental health day

Using Trauma-Informed Care to Guide Emergency Preparedness and Response

Image of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Irma

Exposure to a traumatic event or set of circumstances can negatively affect a person’s mental, physical, social, emotional or spiritual well-being for a long time after the initial incident. We know that not all individuals respond to trauma in the same way and we know that individuals with a history of trauma, especially childhood trauma, Read More >

July 9, 2018 by Amy Wolkin, DrPH, Vulnerable Population Officer, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, CDC; and Anita Everett, MD, Chief Medical Officer, SAMSHA4 Comments

General, mental health, natural disasters, public health, response

emergency responders, mental health, psychological trauma, trauma, trauma-informed care

After the Storm: Helping Kids Cope

A boy and his mother wait to cross the street on their way to school.

Changing schools is hard for any kid. Imagine picking up without any notice and moving to a new school in a brand new place with a different climate, culture, and maybe even a different primary language. Harder still is the thought of moving because your home and community have been devastated by a major hurricane. Read More >

February 12, 2018 by Caitlyn Lutfy, Health Communication Specialist, Emergency Risk Communications Branch1 Comment

natural disasters, public health, response

after the storm, bullying, children, flood, Hurricane, mental health, mold, school

Preparing for College Life: A Healthy Guide

Zoey Brown joined the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response during this past summer to help with a data analysis project. She saw a number of CDC programs and activities, and authored the following post to the Public Health Matters blog. The views expressed are her own, and do not necessarily represent those of Read More >

August 24, 2017 by Zoey Brown, David J. Sencer CDC Museum Intern, The Walker School9 Comments

prevention, public health

alcohol, anxiety, binge drinking, college, depression, exercise, healthy choices, healthy lifestyle, mental health, nutrition, physical activity, pregnancy, sexual health, sexually trasmitted diseases

Step it up outdoors

Mother and father swinging daughter outdoors

Physical activity can improve your health. People who are physically active tend to live longer and have lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers. Physical activity can also help with weight control, and may improve academic achievement in students. Walking is an easy way to start and maintain a Read More >

July 17, 2017 by Brittany Curtis, Health Communications Specialist, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity6 Comments