Tools and Resources

This toolkit outlines basic planning steps, highlights key resources and promising practices, and explains critical data and information to be integrated into emergency planning for MCH populations. It was developed with federal MCH experts and partners.

A suite of tools [PDF – 4 MB] to assist agencies or communities assess the reproductive health needs of women ages 15-44, pregnant and postpartum people, and infants less than 1 year old affected by disasters.

A suite of tools for states, communities, programs and emergency preparedness and response personnel on how to best support families and provide optimal nutrition to infants and young children during emergencies.

This toolkit provides “how to” information for organizations that are interested in learning about, replicating, or adapting key components of The Zika Contraception Access Network (Z-CAN) program. The Z-CAN was developed by the CDC Foundation, in partnership with CDC, and established a network of trained physicians across Puerto Rico that provided client-centered contraceptive counseling and same-day access to the full range of FDA-approved reversible contraceptive methods at no cost during the 2016–2017 Zika virus outbreak.

The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) in collaboration with DRH, developed a preparedness checklist to serve as a framework for local, state, tribal and territorial emergency planning. The checklist is intended to increase the capacity of all U.S. jurisdictions to ensure that the needs of women of reproductive age, especially pregnant and postpartum people, and infants are planned for in the event of emergencies.

The Council State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) in collaboration with DRH, developed a capacity assessment [PDF – 1.2 MB] to understand the current state of MCH emergency preparedness and response within state and territorial public health departments. This project was an opportunity to expand on existing assessments and develop new content, with a focus on overall capacity for MCH preparedness and response at an organizational and individual level.

This tool estimates the number of people who are pregnant in a jurisdiction in the United States at any given point in time. It includes a simulated example [PDF – 195 KB], a point-in-time calculator form [PDF – 73 KB], and a geographic calculator [XLS – 17 KB] to generate estimates using Excel software. The tool can be used for preparedness and response efforts.

This list [PDF – 1 MB] includes common epidemiologic indicators for pregnant and postpartum people and infants who are affected by disasters and offers suggested measurement approaches. This publication describes the process for developing the post-disaster indicators.

This protocol [PDF – 463 KB] provides information on how post-disaster health indicators can be used when collecting supplemental information on pregnant and postpartum people.

The responses to these questions help investigators to understand the effects of emerging infections and major natural disasters on maternal and infant health. This pretested question [PDF – 719 KB] (see Question KK4, page 72) helps to assess the level of preparedness for a disaster among postpartum people.

Clinical information for health care providers and public health professionals caring for people who are pregnant, postpartum, and lactating in the setting of a bioterrorist event involving anthrax. In addition, this report describes the recommendations pertaining to communication about anthrax exposure and treatment for lay and professional audiences and training for health professionals.

These tips and safety messages help to keep expectant and new parents safe before, during, and after a disaster.

This document [PDF – 173 KB] outlines steps parents and caregivers can take before and during a disaster to provide a safe sleep environment for their baby.