Camp for kids traumatized by natural disasters offers space for healing - NBC News

It also paired children with volunteer counselors trained in trauma-informed care, who were prepared to address emotional outbursts and help kids cope with the stress of evacuating or losing their homes.

Chronic mental health problems have been observed in children up to four years after a major disaster, according to a 2015 study published in The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry that looked at the long-term effects of hurricanes and the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The difference often comes down to previous experiences and how parents are handling their own stress, according to Melissa Brymer, director of Terrorism and Disaster Programs at the UCLA–Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress.

Having a plan and sharing those preparations can help both parents and children manage the initial shock of being suddenly displaced, Brymer said.

“Encourage kids to pack their stuff so they have comforting items,” she said.

“Younger kids feed off their parents, and if parents are coping well in a disaster, that will help kids cope.”.

Giving both parents and children space to be themselves is one of the goals behind Project:Camp, according to its founder.

The hurricane forced the closure of daycare programs and camps throughout the area, compounding emergencies for parents who badly needed help with their children and time to figure out what to do next in the midst of a two-week disaster.

When colleagues in Texas put out an alert for help caring for children displaced by the hurricane, Latner flew from California to Texas to run logistics at a pop-up camp in Houston.

During that hurricane, Latner helped feed some 350 children.

Counselors at Project:Camp don’t coax children to discuss their trauma, instead allowing them to explore whatever feelings might arise throughout the day