Conference Sessions in Response to Hurricane Katrina

In response to the devastating impact that Hurricane Katrina and the related flooding have had on the Gulf Coast area, many NAEYC members have asked for information about how the Association-and individual members-can support relief efforts and longer-term recovery projects. In addition, recent events have reminded us all of the necessity of emergency preparedness: having resources ready for moving into action immediately as needs arise and as new needs emerge.

Various organizations' efforts to mobilize following Hurricane Katrina were coming into place as we finalized the NAEYC Annual Conference Program. To the extent possible, we hope to address issues at this conference that early childhood educators are facing and will be facing in the aftermath of this tragedy. Listed below are some of the workshop sessions that will provide information to assist early childhood educators in our work as we help children, families, and colleagues affected by Hurricane Katrina-and to prepare us for other catastrophic events that might occur in the future. Please note that most of the sessions listed below were planned prior to Hurricane Katrina as sessions in the Stress/Resilience Track, so the presentations will not be focused solely on this recent event. Also, other sessions at this conference undoubtedly will include information that is "transferable" to situations that early childhood educators might address in response to Hurricane Katrina evacuees' needs, etc.

Special thanks to presenters who agreed to add information to their presentations regarding responses to catastrophic events, as well as our Gulf Coast colleagues who are presenting a special session on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina.

Effective systems for addressing child care needs during a crisis: lessons from Hurricane Katrina (added session; not listed with other Saturday sessions in the Conference Program)
Saturday, December 10, 11:00 am-1:00 pm, Renaissance Washington Hotel, Grand Ballroom North
Alabama AEYC, Louisiana AEYC, Louisiana ECA, Mississippi ECA, Mississippi State University, the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church, NAEYC staff, and others

Caring for yourself while caring for others: how to manage your stress and teach children to manage theirs
Wednesday, December 7, 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Conv Ctr 145A
Elizabeth Villaverde, Child Development Services of Ottawa County, Inc.; Peggy Hunt, Radford University; & Susan Loughrin, Ottawa Area Intermediate School District

Using the arts to help traumatized children heal
Thursday, December 8, 8:30 am-10:30 am, Renaissance Washington Hotel, Meeting Rooms 8 & 9
Sydney Gurewitz Clemens, New College of California

Death education: supporting young children who experience death and loss
Thursday, December 8, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Conv Ctr 143C
Lynn Worden & Laura Morris, University of Delaware

Helping children cope with loss and grief: the teacher's role
Thursday, December 8, 4:00 pm-5:00 pm, Conv Ctr 203A/B
Shelley Scheel, Sscheel, Inc., & Tammi Menke, CenTex Family Services Head Start

Child and family homelessness: promoting resilience in young children at risk
Friday, December 9, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Conv Ctr 208A/B
Karin Elliott, Horizons for Homeless Children

Today's disturbing media environment: choosing content wisely and helping children cope with their fears
Saturday, December 10, 8:30 am-9:30 am, Conv Ctr 208A/B
Joanne Cantor, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Taking care of the provider: promoting wellness to address challenges faced by providers in the new millennium
Saturday, December 10, 10:00 am-11:00 am, Conv Ctr 103B
Delora Shedrick & Geraldine Keyes, Westover Consultants, Inc.

Caring relationships-the foundation of resilience
Saturday, December 10, 1:30 pm-3:30 pm, Renaissance Washington Hotel, West A Ballroom
Alice Nakahata, Stephen Santos Rico, & Mariannina Mogar, City College of San Francisco