Disaster Networking Collaborative (DNC)

The Disaster Networking Collaborative has Concluded.

The Disaster Networking Collaborative (DNC) was convened from September 2023 to June 2024. View collaborative session recordings or slides here. The goal of the DNC was to improve pediatric disaster preparedness across U.S. children’s hospitals. The collaborative aimed to enhance the infrastructure within and external to registered children’s hospitals focusing on areas such as c-suite engagement and support for pediatric preparedness planning, consistency across recommended disaster roles, and engagement in the emergency management landscape.

The Disaster Response Collaborative (DRC) continues the work of the DNC. Learn more or register for the DRC here.

Thank You to all the DNC Participants. 

If you have questions, email DNCPPN@austin.utexas.edu.

Stretcher Gurney Child Patient Hospital EmergencyFor more information on the DNC, it’s structure, purpose, and details, see the webpages, DNC, DRC, and PPN; Participation Details; DNC Resources, and Children’s Hospitals Registered.

What’s Next?

To provide the best care for kids in a disaster or pandemic, an organization must first have an effective infrastructure in place. Children’s hospitals that participated in DNC achieved this as part of a network of children’s hospitals that work collaboratively to share ideas, best practices, and resources. Participants in the DNC enhanced their pediatric preparedness, both internally and externally.

The DNC was a foundation for future national efforts to enhance pediatric disaster preparedness and response. Registration for the next phase, the DRC is open. The goal of the DRC is to improve pediatric disaster response capability among children’s hospitals, focusing on select priority areas: evacuation, reunification, surge, and triage/infection control/decontamination. The DRC will provide guidance and resources to support participants to implement improvements and to use exercises and drills to track improvements in disaster response. For more information, including DRC registration, see the DRC landing page.

Together, these two collaboratives will contribute critical knowledge and tools to help ensure children’s needs are a core consideration in disaster planning and response at all levels.

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Resources

See Disaster Networking Collaborative resources.

EIIC

EMSC

Engage with the Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) and learn about other collaboratives.