Emergency Support

Tennessee is committed to the wellness and development of its youngest children and those who care for them. The Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee (AIMHiTN), through Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) funding, has developed the Preparedness for Emergency Response in Tennessee Toolkit (PERTT): A Social-Emotional Relational Approach. The toolkit has a specific focus on implementing emergency preparedness, response, and recovery procedures in a developmentally appropriate and trauma-informed manner to further infants’ and young children’s social and emotional development.

Child Welfare and Foster Families

Child welfare professionals are often directly working with children who have experienced traumatic events. Ensuring their safety and well-being is essential, especially in times of crisis.  Preparation can be the key to a positive outcome in the face of an emergency or disaster. The Emergency Response Toolkit, Child Welfare Edition provides tailored resources to assist foster families and child welfare professionals become prepared and equipped to support children through emergencies.

Home Visitors

Home visitors are the front line of family support, often working with vulnerable populations. Sharing tools with families that can help them to remain connected with their child’s needs during times of crisis is vital to the child’s social and emotional development. The Emergency Response Toolkit, Home Visitor Edition offers critical preparedness strategies to help home visitors protect and assist families effectively during unexpected events.

Early Childhood Educators

Early childhood educators play a crucial role in maintaining a safe and stable environment for young children. The responsibility they shoulder during an emergency can be overwhelming. The Emergency Response Toolkit, Early Educator Edition provides practical resources for emergency readiness, ensuring educators are prepared to safeguard children in their care during challenging situations.

Additional Emergency Support Resources

Preparedness goes beyond a plan—it’s about creating safe, supportive environments for children and families. Our toolkits include resources like safe room planning guides, emergency contact printouts for easy access, and helper’s handbooks to equip caregivers and professionals with practical tools for any situation. Together, we can ensure everyone is ready to respond with confidence.

Download Your Toolkit

Get Your Free Emergency Response Toolkit

Emergencies don’t come with warnings, but being prepared makes all the difference. Download our Emergency Response Toolkit now to equip your team with essential guidance and tools to handle unexpected situations confidently. Fill out the form below to get immediate access!

Preparing for Emergencies.

How to PREPARE for Emergencies Using a Social-Emotional Approach

Responding to Emergencies

How To RESPOND To Emergencies Using A Social-Emotional Approach

Recovering from Emergencies

How To Support Social And Emotional Recovery Following Disaster

Disasters.

Supporting Infants And Young Children Around DISASTERS

Supporting Diverse Cultures in Times of Crisis

Recognizing and respecting cultural differences during emergencies is essential to provide effective, compassionate support. The below links offers guidance on cultural responsiveness in natural disasters and crisis situations, ensuring that aid efforts are inclusive, respectful, and sensitive to the unique needs of every community.

Our card decks will help equip and support you in your career as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Professional!

As an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Professional, preparation and reflection are essential. Our card decks are loaded with helpful information and prompts to guide you and provide space to reflect on your own experiences and to prepare you for responding to emergency situations.

Emergency Preparedness Card Deck

The Preparing Everyone to Engage (PETE) Emergency Response Card Deck is part of AIMHiTN efforts to inform and prepare families and professionals to prepare and respond during emergent events. Along with our Emergency Preparedness and Response toolkit, these cards can be used for quick reference to key ideas when responding to the stress and pressure of emergencies and traumatic events. With a three-fold approach of Prepare, Respond, and Recover our tools are backed by the science of a Social and Emotional Relational Approach.

  • Postage is included in your donation

  • Orders will be mailed out the 1st and 3rd weeks of each month.

  • Please contact taylorb@aimhitn.org to inquire about special pricing for bulk orders of 10 or more decks.