Dear Colleagues and Friends of NAEYC:

The leadership of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) expresses our concern for all of the people of Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake. 

The entire population of Haiti has been profoundly affected by the aftermath of this natural disaster, yet the enormity of the tragedy will have a special impact on young children and their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been affected by this tragedy. As leaders of NAEYC, we encourage all of our members and friends to donate to the funds that have been established to aid the victims and assist in the relief efforts.

As time moves forward, the Association will also consider how to further support children and families and the early childhood field in Haiti. We are fortunate that two of our Global Alliance partner organizations are in Haiti, Tipa Tipa and the OMEP National Committee of Haiti. It has been reported to us that their staff survived the earthquake and their facilities are reasonably intact. We intend to work with leaders of Tipa Tipa and the OMEP National Committee of Haiti, as well as other early childhood educators in Haiti, to support and assist them in every way possible. As plans unfold for our provision of additional support and assistance, we will call upon our members and friends to contribute to our efforts.

The images of devastation, pain, and suffering that have been shown to the entire world will affect all those who have seen the images, including children and families in the United States and elsewhere. Families and early childhood educators will want to help children better understand and cope with their feelings, including their fears associated with the disaster. Listed below are a number of web-based resources from allied organizations that may be of use to you in this regard.

We thank you for your generosity and urge you to contribute what you can in support of the massive international relief effort.

Many thanks,

Helpful web-based resources:

American Psychological Association:
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/distress-earthquake.aspx
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2010/01/stress-haiti.aspx

National Association of School Psychologists:
http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/haiti.aspx

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry:
http://www.aacap.org/

Founded in 1926, the National Association for the Education of Young Children has nearly 90,000 members worldwide.  The association is the largest and most influential advocate for early care and education in the United States.

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