The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an organization of more than 60,000 pediatricians committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. For more information, see the AAP Fact Sheet.
The AAP has been involved in disaster preparedness efforts for many years. In 2001, the AAP established a Task Force on Terrorism to manage follow-up efforts regarding the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and issues related to anthrax. Then, the AAP established a Disaster Preparedness Team that focused on Katrina follow-up and clarified the AAP role in reunification, rescue, and recovery.
In 2006, the AAP Board of Directors identified disaster preparedness as 1 of 7 priority issues requiring special attention and resources. The AAP appointed the Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council in May 2007 to establish a focused effort within the Academy to 1) Develop and implement a 3-5 year AAP Strategic Action Plan for Disaster Preparedness; 2) Oversee/support AAP disaster preparedness initiatives while working collaboratively with AAP committees, sections, and councils and key partner organizations; and 3) Strengthen AAP advocacy and policy efforts, which include responding to inquiries as appropriate, identifying opportunities for advocacy such as providing Congressional testimony and offering comments on federal regulations, and mobilizing an AAP Contact Network.
Key issues that the AAP is addressing include:
Ensuring that children's issues are addressed as early as possible in the development of disaster preparedness programs and activities.
Involving pediatric experts in all levels of disaster planning and response (medical home to national levels).
Supporting AAP Chapters and members to integrate pediatric issues into state plans.
The DPAC members recognize that “disaster medicine” is a topic that crosses many other AAP groups (at last count, there were more then 20 AAP committees, sections, and councils with relevant policies or projects). Currently, more than 500 AAP members with an interest, involvement, and/or expertise in disaster preparedness have been identified.
This Web site represents one step to ensure that all pediatricians and other health professionals, parents, caregivers and teachers, policymakers, and communities have the information they need when they need it. For your information, the AAP Tomorrow's Children Endowment Fund is supporting the redesign of this Web site and other disaster preparedness initiatives. We hope that you find it to be a valuable resource!
AAP Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council (2009 - Present)
Members
Steven E Krug, MD, FAAP, Chairperson
Sarita Chung, MD, FAAP
MAJ Daniel B Fagbuyi, MD, FAAP
Margaret Fisher, MD, FAAP
Scott Needle, MD, FAAP
David J Schonfeld, MD, FAAP
Liaisons
Terry Adirim, MD, MPH, FAAP (US Department of Homeland Security)
Pamela Diaz, MD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
AAP Disaster Preparedness Advisory Council (2007-2009)
Members
Gary Q Peck, MD, FAAP, Chairperson
Steven E Krug, MD, FAAP
Scott Needle, MD, FAAP
David J Schonfeld, MD, FAAP
Michael Shannon, MD, MPH, FAAP
Liasions
Terry Adirim, MD, MPH, FAAP (US Department of Homeland Security)
Richard E Besser, MD, FAAP (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
David Marcozzi, MD, MHS-CL, FACEP (HHS,
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response)
See Photo Credits for information on the pictures on the AAP Children and Disasters Web site.
