Work of National Emergency Child Care Network (NECCN)
NECCN provides trauma-informed child care and mental health services directly to families who have been impacted and traumatized by a disaster or crisis. Within one year of inception (May 2024), NECCN responded to two of the most destructive disasters in recent US history - Los Angeles wildfires and Hurricane Helene.
In October 2024, NECCN activated its Emergency Child Care Volunteer Program to respond to Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and started deploying trauma-informed volunteers non-stop. NECCN fulfills an unmet need for families during disasters and is often known by families as a "lifesaver."
NECCN has trained 160 trauma-informed volunteers who have deployed on 250 shifts covering 1,200 hours of free emergency child care over the last 12 months for 100 children and 60 struggling families in Los Angeles County and North Carolina.
We know children are the most vulnerable during and after disasters. When disasters strike, children can be cut off from their family, their friends, and their home — and basic human needs, such as emotional care, education, food, water and medical care. Trauma exposure can also alter brain anatomy and functioning, inhibiting learning and memory processes. Studies show children exposed to disasters report trouble concentrating, which can interfere with learning at school and at home.
We believe every family has equal opportunity to utilize and access emergency child care and mental health services, regardless of geography, income, religion, social beliefs, ethnicity, or family dynamics.
Child care providers are dispatched to provide relief to a family when they need child care or mental health services. Services can range from 4 hour of emergency child care to 8 hours of support per day. Trained volunteers are dispatched to the family’s residence, school, or a location where the service is needed.
There is no criteria for families to use the services, no long application forms, and no high costs. Our child care services are 100% free of charge thanks to generous partners and volunteers who believe in our mission.
