Supporting Little Ones Following Big Emergencies or Disasters is a fantastic resource from the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee that the clinicians and educators at LDC use to help support our students and patients struggling with the aftermath of natural disasters. For anyone looking to support a child or children in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene this is a great resource.
In today’s world, an increasing number of individuals are facing the aftermath of natural disasters and community violence. The disasters can be challenging for adults to fully comprehend, which leaves us to reflect on how significant the impact of these events is on the youngest brains and bodies. Emergencies and disasters can profoundly impact the caregiver/child relationship and the caregiver capacity within families with children aged 0-5 (Cruz et al., 2022). The Supporting Little Ones: An IECMH Helper’s Handbook Following Big Emergencies or Disasters is designed to help behavioral health clinicians develop an understanding of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health while also assisting them in recognizing strategies to promote healing in the caregiver-child relationship. Children are part of diverse systems that shape their daily lives. This handbook also aims to support clinicians in identifying how trauma following an emergency or disaster can impact a child’s way of being within early childhood education centers that they may attend. Additionally, it provides insights into how clinicians can collaborate with early childhood educators to support children and families after emergencies and disasters.
