Meeting Places: Child Reunification Center SOP

[Community]

CHILD REUNIFICATION CENTER

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES (SOP)

[Date]

1. OVERVIEW

1.1. Purpose

The purpose of this document is to describe [Community] standards and operating procedures to volunteers staffing the Child Reunification Center. The [Community Government] has signed MOUs with [Facility] to serve as a shelter for children separated from their families by disaster. 

1.2. Definitions

• The Child Reunification Center is a temporary facility that is made available after a disaster when children are in school, after-school, day care, or other activities away from their families. 

• The facility opens the 49th hour after a disaster at which point school staff transport children remaining in their care to the CRC.

• The CRC is not a permanent or homeless shelter. It is open post-disaster only under certain circumstances (when the majority of children are in school, day care, or after care) until such time as every last child has been reunited with family or child and family services have assumed responsibility for the remaining children.

1.3. Pre-Identified Location

The following location has been identified as the CRC:

• [Locations]

  
  

2. ACTIVATION

2.1. Activation Protocol

In the event of a disaster, the [Community Government] may activate emergency shelters.

Upon determination of need for activation, the [Community] Emergency Manager notifies the primary contact at the CRC.

All employees or volunteers of the CRC shall be under the supervision and control of the Child Reunification Team Lead and the [Community] Emergency Manager.

2.2. Activation Triggers

A disaster that happens during the school season on a Monday through Friday and not on a school holiday.

Any event that leaves large numbers of children stranded at school, day cares, or after-care facilities.

2.3. Transitioning to a Shelter

The CRC is designed for continuous (24/7) operation. 

CRC Activation needs to be coordinated with the [Community] Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or the Emergency Manager when the EOC is not activated.

Children under the care of schools, day cares, or after-care programs when disaster strikes and who are still not reunited with parents or caregivers by the 49th hour post-disaster are to be accompanied by school staff to the CRC. 

At the CRC, volunteers will check in each child before authority and responsibility for their care is transferred from the school to the CRC. School staff must provide CRC staff with all pertinent information (including name, age, list of approved contacts, and special medical needs) for each child.

Children who are injured are to be treated by Medical Reserve Corps volunteers at a Disaster Hub or at the Disaster Medical Center before being taken to the CRC. After being released from medical care, any children not yet reunited with family or caregivers are to be transitioned to the CRC.

2.4. Volunteers

Volunteers must submit a [Community] Emergency Volunteer Application form, which includes a background check authorization. Upon completion of the background check and specific CRC training, volunteers are then approved as [Community] emergency workers and issued official [Community] emergency management volunteer badges.

Volunteers who are registered with the [Community] are considered [State] Emergency Workers. This provides them with liability protection under the [State] Emergency Worker program while on duty at the CRC.

2.5. Training and Qualifications

All CRC volunteers are required to attend CRC-specific training. All must pass a background check.

3. OPERATIONS

3.1. General Policies, Command, and Property Management

During any type of emergency deployment, all staff must abide by reasonable and safe direction given from any emergency response/emergency management personnel (such as police, fire, or EMS personnel) regardless of their jurisdiction of origin.

Volunteers will abide by the chain of command established during each shift/activation.

3.2. Security Procedures

• Secure unused doors that are not emergency exits. However, under no circumstances should emergency exits be blocked or locked in a way that would prevent exiting.

• Remind children and staff that they are not to use restricted entrances to enter or exit from the building.

• Patrol dormitory area and surrounding areas to ensure dormitories remain safe.

• Control access to shelter storage areas. Choose a location for storing supplies and equipment that can be secured.

• Children may not leave the premises unless accompanied by a volunteer to be taken for medical care or unless being released to their families or caregivers.

Alcohol and Drugs

•  Alcohol, drugs, and smoking are not permitted on the property.

Weapons

• Weapons of any kind are not permitted on shelter grounds.

3.4. Staffing Policies

• CRC staff are community volunteers that have been vetted by the [Community] and have received specific training to accomplish their roles.

•  CRC staff must never place themselves in a dangerous situation or ask others to do so.

• CRC staff should only perform tasks within their training abilities.

•  Assign only vetted emergency worker staff to work with children.

• Only vetted emergency worker staff should have access to children’s information and records.

3.5. Supplies

• Permanent markers

• Pens and pencils

• Adhesive tape

• Duct tape

• Paper

• Scissors

• Stapler and staples

• Staple gun and staples

• Tyvek bracelets for identification of students/kids and special needs

• Class lists updated 2x/year and stored in hard copy and on flash drive in locked, fire- and waterproof box

• Team procedures and protocols provided by principal or admin.

• Colored sticky dots for use on student ID bracelets to signify dietary restrictions, medications, any siblings, etc.

• Student release forms 

• Radios with extra batteries and 2–4 chargers 

• Caution tape

• 5 x 8 index cards

Check Items Notes

• First aid manual

• Prescription life-saving medications as needed by specific students (at least a 3-day supply)

• Documentation required by facility provided by principal or admin. 

• Student medical/prescription information as provided to the school.

• 2 headlamps for use when power is out.

• Lights and extra batteries (pen lights, headlamps, glow sticks, flashlights)

• Nitrile gloves in various sizes for personal protection

• Aprons or disposable hospital gowns 

• Safety goggles or face shields 

• Tweezers for splinter care

• Scissors for cutting tape and gauze

• Thermometer and covers

• AED with adult and pediatric pads

• CPR disposable pocket masks

• Safety razor to remove hair prior to application of AED pads

• QuickClot for large wounds and for bloody noses (this is a hemostatic agent that helps clot blood. A version that is impregnated in gauze for packing wounds is recommended.

• Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) for stopping major bleeding on limbs. 

• Sharpie marker to mark start time on tourniquet.

• Hyfin Chest seal pair for sealing penetrating chest wounds.

• Rolled gauze (multiple rolls) for packing wounds.

• Steri-Strip wound closures for closing minor cuts.

• Medical shears to cut off clothing for CPR or wound exposure.

• Compression bandages to stop bleeding on areas that can’t use a tourniquet (per Stop the Bleed protocols).

• Abdominal bandages for wound care.

• Gauze pads in various sizes for wound care.

• Self-adhering bandage rolls (Coband) for wound care.

• Stop the Bleed poster guidance.

• Stop the Bleed kits.

• SAM splints for limb stabilization.

• Gauze rolls for limb stabilization.

• Triangular bandages for limb stabilization.

• Soft collar neck brace for neck stabilization.

• Burn gel for burns.

• Eye wash for eye care.

• Eye pads for eye care.

• Irrigation tray with syringe and swabs for disinfection.

• Simply Saline wound wash for disinfection.

• Betadine for disinfection.

• Antibiotic ointment for disinfection.

• Benadryl oral tablets for allergic reactions (have in adult and child dosages).

• Benadryl anti-itch cream for allergic reactions of skin.

• Ibuprofen 

• Acetaminophen 

• Aspirin chewable tables (81 mg): Use 4 tablets for a suspected heart attack.

• Pepto-Bismol Chewable Tablets for upset stomach in adult and child dosages.

• Pedialyte for rehydration in adults and children.

• Stretcher or patient litter (x 2) to transport nonambulatory patients

• Feminine hygiene products (tampons and pads) as needed, according to grade level

• Diapers (in different sizes for young children) 

• Soap

• Hand-washing station: Biodegradable soap, 5-gallon buckets, paper towels

• Wet wipes 

• Tissues 

• Disposable toothbrushes and toothpaste 

• Emesis bags 

• Hand sanitizer 

• Heavy-duty plastic sheeting and dropcloths 

• Biohazard waste disposal bags for disposal of medical waste and body fluids

• Sharps container for disposal of needles 

• Bleach and/or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes for disinfection and cleaning

• Heavy-duty trash bags for disposal and cleaning

• 5-gallon buckets for medical waste and body fluids

• Paper towel rolls for sanitation 

• Food: 3 meals a day per person (include volunteers) and snacks

• Water: 1 gallon per person per day

• Apple sauce packets 

• Ice packs

• Hand warmers

• Paper drinking cups for hydration

• 5-gallon water container for hydration

• Cots for patients needing to recline

• Blankets to keep patients warm

• Do Not Enter (red) and Caution (yellow) tape

• Triage tape set Red, yellow, green, black

3.5. Animals at the Shelter

The companion/service animals of any children brought to the CRC should be allowed to stay with their children while at the Center. 

3.6. Checklists and Responsibilities

• Inspect facility. Note existing damage. Mitigate any hazards.

• Set up child care areas. Ensure there are three areas:

• A quiet room: Low sensory input for kids to rest and recover  

• Medium room: With games and books 

• High energy room: For more physical playing and interacting

Group children according to mental state and stimulation needs.

• Note any areas that are off-limits.

• Set up sleeping area. Separate children by age. Make exceptions for siblings who don’t request to be apart.

• Get teenagers involved in the volunteer work during the emergency. They can man the food distribution and basic setup for all hubs.

• Provide children with allergies color-coded bracelets that indicates type of allergy (for example, yellow for peanut; red for wheat, etc.).

• Children with medication needs should have 3 days of medications at the school nurse’s office. By the time children arrive at the CRC, they will be about to run out of meds. Coordinate with the MTC to replace medications.

• Make a visual assessment of the conditions outside the shelter.

• Maintain an activity log.

• Complete a report for each incident of illness or injury to staff and children.

• Make snacks and water available.

• Check restrooms and continue to monitor throughout the day for cleanliness.

• Monitor need for scaling up, scaling down, and demobilizing.

• Communicate any concerns to the Emergency Manager.

• Give every staff member and child a name tag.

• Use the shelter log book to note any actions or incidents that happen during a shift. 

  
  

4. FORMS

CRC Intake Form

CRC Service Animal/Emotional Support Animal

Type of Animal:

Which child uses the services of the animal?

What service(s) does the animal perform?

Pets

Special Dietary Needs /Accommodations:

Actions/Referrals:

CRC SUPPLY INVENTORY

CRC RESOURCE REQUEST

CRC STAFF CHECK-IN AND -OUT

Date:

Location:

CRC ACTIVITY LOG

Date:

Location: