title: Schools and Disasters: Safety and Mental Health Assessment and Interventions for Children.
abstract: This article draws on experiences and lessons from global disasters and utilizes the United Nations Comprehensive School Safety Framework to highlight the necessary role of safe schools in protecting children, as well as adult staff, from the immediate threats and long-term implications of disasters. Specifically, we focus on three well-established pillars of school safety: Pillar I: Safe Learning Facilities; Pillar II: Disaster Management; and Pillar III: Risk Reduction and Resilience Education. In addition, we propose a potential fourth pillar, which underscores the function of schools in postdisaster mental health assessment and intervention for children. We argue that schools offer a central location and trusted institutional space for mental health assessment and intervention after disasters. We also examine the important linkages between schools, child mental health, and household and family recovery. We conclude with recommendations for filling gaps in research and practice related to ensuring the safety of schools and the associated health and well-being of children in the face of future disasters.
authors: School of Public Health, Georgia State University, 1 Park Place, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA. blai@gsu.edu.
authors: Betty S
authors: BS
authors: Lai
authors: Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, 14 Marietta Street, NW, Atlanta, GA, 30303, USA.
authors: Ann-Margaret
authors: AM
authors: Esnard
authors: Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07043, USA.
authors: Sarah R
authors: SR
authors: Lowe
authors: Department of Sociology, Colorado State University, B-237 Clark Building, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
authors: Lori
authors: L
authors: Peek
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D004190:Disasters; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012449:Safety; D012572:School Health Services
keywords: Assessment; Children; Disasters; Intervention; Posttraumatic stress; Resilience; Risk reduction; Safety; Schools