DePelchin Children's Center :: Hurricane Ike Leaves Lasting Impression on Children

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Hurricane Ike Leaves Lasting Impression on Children

DePelchin reminds parents to watch for signs and symptoms of Traumatic Stress in children following Hurricane Ike.

DePelchin Children’s Center, Houston’s oldest and largest social service organization and a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), is offering information to parents and counseling services to help children who have been affected by Hurricane Ike.

“Hurricanes, like all traumatic events, leave lasting impressions on our children,” says Megan Mooney, Ph.D., staff psychologist. “While it’s true that children can be very resilient, parents need to keep a close eye on their child’s behavior even after the immediate threat of the traumatic event has passed.”

Parents should monitor their children for the following signs:
   • irritability
   • fear
   • nightmares or sleep problems
   • sadness or withdrawal
   • anxiety
   • change in academic performance
   • emotional outbursts for no reason
   • headaches and stomachaches
   • change in appetite
   • increased risk-taking
   • aggressive behavior

“Traumatic stress can interfere with children’s ability to concentrate and learn and, in some cases; can seriously delay development,” adds Mooney. “It also can lead to depression, substance abuse and other mental health problems.”

Children may become distressed upon hearing about weather warnings as well as during future storms. Parents should note that some signs and symptoms may not be noticeable in children until a year or more after experiencing a traumatic event. According to Mooney, there are some cases in which the effects of the trauma did not appear for many years following an event.

Behavioral health experts at DePelchin recommend the following ways to help children and parents deal with negative emotions associated with trauma, including worry, anxiety, fear and anger. They advise parents to:

   • Shield children from viewing serious injuries and damage as much as possible
   • Try to remain calm and monitor adult conversations to minimize children’s distress
   • Let children know what is being done to help the community recover from the storm
   • Get children involved in the response effort, in age-appropriate ways, to boost their sense of control
   • Be sympathetic to children’s sense of loss over pets and special toys
   • Repeatedly reassure children that they are safe
   • Spend more time with children at bedtime, when they may be more anxious about separation and the unknown
   • Maintain daily routines and expectations for children as much as possible
   • Be patient with children when they return to school. They may be distracted and have difficulty concentrating

Children’s reactions to the hurricane and its aftermath are strongly influenced by how their parents and other caregivers cope during and after the storm. While adults are concerned with their homes, finances, and other daily necessities, it’s important not to overlook the child’s basic need of reassurance, support and safety.

If you notice signs of traumatic stress in your child, please call (713) 730-2335 or toll free (888) 730-2335. You also can learn more about DePelchin Children’s Center and how to help your child cope after the hurricane by visiting www.depelchin.org.

As a member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, DePelchin has extensive experience with counseling familes after stressful events, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The NCTSN works to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States.

DePelchin recently was awarded a $1.6 million grant from NCTSN to continue and expand its work as a child trauma center. This four-year grant, issued to organizations offering traumatic stress services to children, will be used to expand the current DePelchin Child Trauma Program.

For additional resources for parents and caretakers related to helping children cope with recent events, visit Hurricane Trauma Resource.

About DePelchin:
DePelchin Children's Center is a non-profit organization providing comprehensive counseling and parent-education programs to children, adolescents and families, as well as adoption, foster care and residential treatment services. The agency has served the Houston-area community since 1892.

About The National Child Traumatic Stress Network:
Established by Congress in 2000, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is a unique collaboration of academic and community-based service centers whose mission is to raise the standard of care and increase access to services for traumatized children and their families across the United States. Combining knowledge of child development, expertise in the full range of child traumatic experiences, and attention to cultural perspectives, the NCTSN serves as a national resource for developing and disseminating evidence-based interventions, trauma-informed services, and public and professional education.