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ACF unveils 10-capability 'Disaster Human Services' framework, seeks regional pilots and survivor input
Summary
OER leaders presented a ten-capability framework—covering planning, information, incident management, financing, workforce, logistics and service continuity—to standardize disaster human-services practice and invited regional listening sessions and survivor input on next steps.
The Administration for Children and Families' Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response presented a new Disaster Human Services Capabilities Framework designed to give human-services providers common language and practical steps for preparing, responding and recovering from disasters.
Natalie Grant, OER director, and Bridget Miller outlined 10 capabilities ranging from integrated planning and information management to newer sections on standardized incident management, disaster financing, workforce readiness and logistics. Grant emphasized alignment with FEMA and CDC capabilities while tailoring the guidance to human-services workflows and the needs of vulnerable populations.
"We want to make sure where the rubber hits the road is where you live," Grant said, stressing regional engagement and the need to synchronize emergency-management terminology with human-services practice. Bridget Miller described the framework’s structure—definitions, outcomes and action elements—to support jurisdictional planning, exercises and continuous improvement.
Next steps include publishing the first version of the framework in the coming weeks, conducting fall listening sessions with tribal communities and survivors with lived experience, and piloting regional engagements with FEMA. Grant also said ACF will explore workforce development with the Council on Social Work Education to prepare a disaster-human-services curricular guide for emerging social workers.
Why it matters: Providers and state officials told ACF that differing language, siloed funding and weak incident-management alignment hinder rapid, equitable responses. The framework aims to give jurisdictions a modular set of capabilities they can adopt in stages and test with partners and survivors.
What ACF asked: Feedback on the draft capabilities, participation in regional pilots, and referrals to survivors and disability-rights groups for planned listening sessions.
