Standing Together: Supporting Children and Families Impacted by Wildfires

Dear Movement Members,  

Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. We recognize the immense hardships so many are facing, from the loss of homes and workplaces, the disruption of childcare and education, and threats to children’s physical and mental health. We stand in solidarity with all who are navigating this crisis and are here to offer support in any way we can.

Below you will find a list of resources to help children and families during this difficult time. These resources were compiled from the many similar emails sent by Movement members, and we are deeply grateful to see how our members have come together to help share and spread this vital information. If you have LA-based members in your network, we strongly encourage you to circulate these resources when you can. We hope these tools will provide meaningful assistance as Los Angeles communities work to recover and rebuild.

Don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions. Please know that our thoughts are with every individual and family affected by this tragedy, and we are here to support in every way we can during this heartbreaking time. 

In solidarity,
Emily Reece
Children Now
Director, The Children’s Movement
[email protected]

 

Resources for Children & Families Impacted by the LA Fires

Housing, Food, and Monetary Assistance

• Time Out LA created a list of restaurants offering free meals to evacuees – click here to view. 

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides money for eligible survivors to help with housing needs if they cannot return home because of fires. The funds can be used to stay in a hotel, with family and friends, or other options while they find a more permanent housing solution. Visit this FEMA website to learn more.  

• The one-week waiting period to collect unemployment from the CA Employment Development Department (EDD) has been waived and families out of work due to the fire can begin collecting benefits immediately. Visit this EDD website to apply. 

• People in designated areas may also be eligible to receive money from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication, and other emergency supplies. Visit this SBA website to learn more.  

• For those looking to donate:  

• • The CA Department of Education (CDE) has launched a fundraising campaign to support students, teachers, and school staff impacted by the fires. Make a tax-deductible donation to the Disaster Relief Fund via this SupplyBank.org website.  

• • Fellow Movement member National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA) shared 2 spreadsheets here and here which list over 500 ways folks can provide monetary support to those impacted by the fires. 

Health Assistance 

• Protect yourself and loved ones by picking up a free N95 mask from an LA public library. Keep in mind, even if the Air Quality Index reads as “healthy”, the index does not consider lead, asbestos, etc. released during urban fires. Visit the LA public libraries website to find the nearest branch.  

• LA Unified has a Student and Family Wellness Resource Line that folks in need of mental health support are encouraged to call (213-241-3840, available Monday-Friday between 7:30AM-5PM). 

• Fellow Movement member NAPAFASA shared this sheet, which lists therapist providing pro-bono mental health support for those affected by the fires. 

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) compiled resources to support survivors, family members, responders, and recovery workers affected by wildfires and other disasters. Information includes signs of emotional distress, populations who may be at greater risk for distress after a wildfire, and links to resources for more information and support. Visit the SAMHSA website to learn more 

• The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services and the Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) developed an emergency preparedness guide/toolkit for individuals with disabilities. View the guide on this DOR website.  

• The CA Department of Health Care Services (DCHS) provides guidance regarding accessing medical care, filling prescriptions, obtaining support for individuals with special needs, and more for Medi-Cal members and providers during emergencies. Visit this DCHS Q&A webpage to learn more.   

• Fellow Movement member Regional Asthma Management & Prevention (RAMP) compiled tools developed to help select safe, effective, affordable air cleaners (also known as air purifiers) for people with asthma. They also hosted a webinar last year about wildfire smoke exposure in kids and how to mitigate the health effects. Visit RAMP’s website to access the tools and the Public Health Institute’s website to watch the webinar recording. 

Childcare and Education Assistance 

• Los Angeles YMCAs, many of whom are Children Movement members, are opening their doors for children of essential workers and children of families who were displaced, evacuated or lost property. Visit the YMCA website for a list of the 28 Y centers in LA.  

• The LA County Parks and Recreation Department is providing “Care Camps” for children aged 5-17. View this Facebook post to learn more.  

• San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) created and organized excellent guidance and tools for planning and communicating about emergencies, including wildfires. Visit the SMCOE website to learn more.  

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has resources for school building owners and managers, school facility managers, public health officials, and emergency managers to reduce smoke concentrations in buildings during wildfires. Visit the EPA website to learn more. 

• Fellow Movement member Ten Strands curated Trauma Informed Practices to support educators and administrators on how to best integrate trauma informed practices into the phases of emergency preparedness with students and families. Visit the Ten Strands website to learn more.  

• Ten Strands also created this Climate Resilience and Adaptation Toolkit, which they recently released with the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence and UndauntedK12. 

• CDE released new School Air Quality Guidance in October 2024. The Association of California School Administrators has these guidelines for schools to get smart about wildfire smoke. 

Staying Informed 

• The Coalition of Clean Air is hosting a webinar today (1/15) from 3-4:30 PM PT, providing information and answering questions about air quality, public health, and the response to the fires in and around Los Angeles. Visit the coalition’s website to register for the webinar. 

• The LA County Office of Education (LACOE) compiled resources including school closure information, evacuation centers, and shelter assistance. View this LACOE website to access the resources. 

• Cal Fire and local emergency officials provide real-time updates about the wildfires. Sign up for local alerts via this website. 

• Listos California offers an emergency alerts sign-up page to help connect Californians with their local alerts systems based on a provided zip code or location. Sign-up on the Listos California website. 

• The LA County Public Health Department provides updates and advisories regarding fire safety and health information. Stay up to date via this department website. They also have resources about mental health and stress after an emergency, precautions when assessing your property after a fire, and how to clean up smoke and soot from a fire.  

Additional Resources 

• Fellow Movement member GRACE has compiled an LA Fires Resources and Relief sheet, laying out everything from where to apply for grants/aid to how to file property damage insurance claims. Visit this Google Sheet to learn more.  

• Mutual Aid Los Angeles Network (MALAN) is also maintaining a list of resources available to those affected by the fires. View this Google Sheet to access the resources, which are available in multiple languages and updated regularly by the MALAN team with new resources or calls for volunteers and donations.  

• MALAN is also maintaining a “sheet of sheets” that tracks links to other Google sheets listing resources for those impacted by the fire. View the Google sheet here.  

• The LA County Registrar-Recorder Office is accepting requests for property and vital records (i.e., birth, death, marriage, etc.) free of charge. View this Facebook post to learn more. 

• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) created a mobile app and parent guide to help children impacted by wildfires. Visit NCTSN’s website to learn more about the app and access the guide.  

• Parents published an article titled, How to Talk to Your Children About the California Wildfires and Other Natural Disasters. View the article on the Parents website.