The following information is from a research report prepared for The
National Institute for Hometown Security
Citation: Sprang, G., Clark, J.J., Silman, M., Leigh, P., Jackson, C.M., & LaJoie, S. (2011). Evidence-Informed Guidelines for Child-Focused Pandemic Planning and Response (Report No. 12BHDRP002).
Center on Trauma and Children.
The full report can be accessed at
This document is the result of a
two-year international, mixed-methods study
of the physical, social, and mental health effects of pandemic on children and families - particularly the impact of quarantine and hospital isolation during these events. The project also examined the psychosocial effects of pandemic disaster on professionals who care for children before, during, and after pandemic. Based on the empirical findings of this study, researchers developed a set of
evidence-informed, child-focused, best practice guidelines
for use by stakeholders during future pandemics across a variety of relevant fields including
government, schools, healthcare, behavioral health and family court systems
. In addition, data gathered and analyzed for the project were used to create a set of
Kentucky-specific
recommendations that respond to the state's unique geographic and population needs. Special considerations addressed in the document include
social distancing, quarantine, utilizing telehealth technologies, mitigating secondary traumatic stress for helping professionals and addressing ethical challenges or dilemmas.
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A
sample of guidelines for evidence-based practice in behavioral healthcare during a pandemic are provided below for consideration by organizations in the process of planning for/adapting to these needs. Numerous supportive resources for implementing child-focused strategies in behavioral health and other systems are provided in the full document.
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Essential elements of immediate and mid-term intervention that are supported by empirical evidence include the following activities:
- Behavioral health organizations should have in place clearly outlined and pre-determined behavioral health strategies and methods to screen persons who have been exposed to the pandemic and who may be in need of mental health services (In the full document, see Appendix H. Recommendations for Brief Screening Tools). Screening and assessment results should be linked to ongoing, integrated service provision by behavioral health professionals trained in evidence-based protocols.
- Promote a sense of safety and well-being. In pandemic situations, this requires adequate and timely medical intervention, protection from exposure, contagion and secondary loss, and disease containment.
- Promote calming. Messaging should avoid unnecessary catastrophic language, opportunities for action and self-care should be clearly articulated, and strategies to promote family togetherness and resiliency should be implemented to capitalize on existing adaptive skills.
- Promote a sense of self and collective efficacy. Effective decision making and resiliency in pandemic conditions requires the acquisition of accurate and appropriate information, opportunities for self-directed action, choice, and good communication with public health officials, healthcare providers and behavioral health professionals.
- Promote connectedness. Family-centered care that maintains the protective qualities of the parent-child relationship in quarantine or isolation situations is preferable. The use of social media and telecommunication strategies should be implemented to promote social connectedness in times of isolation, shelter-in-place or quarantine.
- Promote hope. Projected fatality rates and proposed risk profiles should be tempered and accompanied by concrete health and mental health promotion strategies and activities to prevent panic and despair. Existing individual and community strengths and resiliency should be identified and highlighted in media coverage of the pandemic event.
For children needing therapeutic services for trauma-related disorders, trauma-informed, evidence-based protocols are needed. For a complete listing of best practices for the treatment of traumatic stress, see
www.nctsn.org
.
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