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Save the Children’s Mark Shriver Elected to Chair National Commission on Children and Disasters
Washington, DC (June 30, 2008) — Members of a new national commission on children and disasters have elected Mark K. Shriver, Vice President and Managing Director of Save the Children’s U.S. Programs, as the commission's first chair.
The National Commission on Children and Disasters was created by an act of Congress last December. Shriver and the nine other commissioners recently were appointed by President Bush and bipartisan members of the congressional leadership to serve on the commission.The panel of experts will recommend changes that federal, state, and local governments need to make to meet the needs of children in emergencies, including planning, response and recovery efforts.
Large scale disasters are on the rise in the United States. The number of Presidential disaster declarations has risen steadily over the past two decades from 38 to an average of 57 per year.
"This is an incredible opportunity to help kids all across the country. America must do a better job of preparing to meet children's unique needs during disasters," said Shriver.
"In the wake of the devastating flooding in the Midwest and as we start the second month of hurricane season, it is especially important that children's needs — such as physical and mental health services, functioning child care centers, and continuity of schooling — are taken into account. The recommendations of the commission will help communities make sure their children are taken care of when disaster strikes."
Save the Children has decades of experience working with children in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts around the world, but Hurricane Katrina clearly demonstrated that there was no national mandate to safeguard children before, during and after disasters. Save the Children led a coalition of nonprofit organizations in advocating for the legislation and mobilizing support for the creation of a National Commission on Children and Disasters.
