The 7.0 earthquake in Haiti has left the island devastated. Americans are wondering how they can help, how to help children understand and cope with a disaster of such magnitude -- and understand and cope with their own responses.

LifeCare offers the following resources to assist during this disaster:

• Coping with Traumatic Events: This article can help you understand and cope with a traumatic event that is impacting your life.
  
  
• A LifeCare Guide: Helping Children Cope with Disaster: This guide can help parents understand how children react to a disaster and how to respond to children of different ages in the aftermath of a tragic event.

Note: The following resources are not intended to be entirely comprehensive; they are intended to provide you with a starting point for obtaining information. The organizations listed here should be considered referrals only. Only you can determine the appropriateness of a particular organization. Inclusion of an organization does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by LifeCare or any of its employees. LifeCare is not responsible for the content of any web pages referenced in this article.

Haitian Orphans

Layers of Trauma for Haiti's Orphans
Free Webinar
Watch the Webinar
Download the Supporting Materials
Bruce D. Perry M.D., Ph.D., the Senior Fellow at The ChildTrauma Academy, discusses the likely impact of the many traumas children coming home from the orphanages in Haiti have experienced. The webinar will help prepare families who are now awaiting or have already received placement under the United States' expedited program. PLEASE NOTE: This session is intended for those families who were in process of adopting from Haiti prior to the earthquake and are therefore receiving an expedited placement of their child. The Haitian adoption process itself as well as advice for those looking to start the process of adopting from Haiti will not be covered.

Resources for Locating/Contacting Loved Ones Affected by the Earthquake

The following resources may be helpful in locating missing loved ones:

• The State Department has several resources for inquiring about the welfare and whereabouts of friends and family in Haiti:
  
  
  • To Ask For or Provide Information About U.S. Citizens in Haiti:
    Email the Task Force at Haiti-Earthquake@state.gov OR
    From the U.S. or Canada, call 888-407-4747 (Other countries, call 202-501-4444)
    
    
  • For U.S. Citizens in Haiti Seeking Assistance or Reporting Their Status/Whereabouts:
    Email the Embassy at ACSPaP@state.gov OR
    Call the Embassy's Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672)
    
    
  When contacting any of the numbers or using the emails above, please include the following information:
  
  
  • The full name, date of birth and passport information (if known) of the persons in Haiti you are trying to contact.
    
    
  • Their contact information in Haiti; telephone numbers, email address, hotel name or address (if known)
    
    
  • Your name and contact information, and your relationship to the person in Haiti (parent, spouse, friend etc.)
    
    
  • Any special or emergency circumstances.
    
    
• Google Crisis Response: Person Finder Haiti Earthquake
  (Available in English, Français, Kreyòl and Español)
  
  
• International Committee of the Red Cross FamilyLinks website
  (Select Haiti earthquake 2010. Also available en Français).
  
  
• American Red Cross Safe and Well website
  
  
• CNN is allowing readers to post photos and information* on persons missing as a result of the earthquake.
  
  
• The New York Times is also providing a forum to connect with people* affected by the earthquake in Haiti.
  
  
• Earthquake Haiti Facebook Group
  
  
• Free Google Voice Calls to Haiti
  To help U.S. families reach loved ones in Haiti, for a limited time Google Voice is offering free calls to Haiti. If you don’t have a Google Voice account, you can request an invitation at www.google.com/voice.

Information and Resources for Donors

• FBI Haitian Earthquake Relief Fraud Alert
  www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/earthquake011310.htm
  
  
• IRS: Haiti Relief Donations Qualify for Immediate Tax Relief
  
  
• Center for International Disaster Information
  Fact Sheet on Appropriate Response to Assist Haiti Earthquake Victims
  
  
• U.S. Agency for International Development
  Guide to Effective Giving
  
  
• Better Business Bureau: How to Vet Haiti Earthquake Charity Appeals
  
  
• Better Business Bureau: For Charities and Donors
  
  
• Charity Navigator
  
  
• GuideStar

* Links to external sites are provided solely as a courtesy to our members.

This publication is for general informational purposes only and it is not intended to provide any reader with specific authority, advice or recommendations. Where you deem necessary, we suggest that you seek advice regarding your particular situation from the appropriate professional.