The Disaster Response and Networking Collaboratives and the Pediatric Preparedness Network

The Disaster Networking Collaborative (DNC) and the Disaster Response Collaborative (DRC) are free quality improvement initiatives of the Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN), which is a federally funded group of 10 children’s hospitals and partner organizations working to improve outcomes for all children in emergencies, disasters, and pandemics. The PPN aims to empower health care systems, communities, and youth to provide high-quality, equitable care to children every day and in crises.

Through the PPN, children’s hospitals serve as regional hubs for improving care and addressing issues of health disparity for all children every day and in disasters, emergencies, and pandemics. The PPN hospitals work with regional and national programs, Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence, academic institutions, community organizations, individual experts, and family representatives to share pediatric-related information, educational resources, and best practices.

To reach these goals, PPN is conducting the DNC from September 2023 through June 2024 with more than 100 children’s hospitals in the United States. Registered children’s hospital teams have assessed whether improvements are necessary related to C-suite commitment and support, pediatric disaster roles, and responsibilities, and engagement in the Emergency Management Landscape and are actively implementing improvement projects. See previous collaborative session recordings and slides here, and find information/topics on remaining sessions here.

The DRC will begin in September 2024 and run through June 2026 – additional details will be available soon.

The overall aim is that by August 2026 at least 90% of children’s hospitals will be individually and collectively prepared to respond in an emergency, disaster, or pandemic through improved planning and response capabilities. Ongoing engagement in the PPN and its collaboratives is desired. Ultimately, children’s hospitals will have working partnerships with local, state, regional, and/or national emergency preparedness systems, and networks to provide education and preparedness to address the needs of children and families.