Volunteer, Child Care

The Mission
Disaster Child Care (DCC) trains, certifies, and mobilizes
volunteers to disaster sites in the United States to provide
crisis intervention to young children of families suffering
from natural or man-made disasters. Professional counselors
are also available to inform and educate parents, teachers,
community workers and the general public about the effects
of disasters on children. DCC is a program of the Emergency
Response/Service Ministries of the Church of the Brethren
General Board. Administrative offices are located at the
Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Maryland.

Disaster Child Care volunteers are identified by blue and white
checked tops and compassion for children. They provide comfort
and encouragement, and offer the healing touch young children
need in traumatic situations.

DCC volunteers create a safe and friendly environment to give
children the freedom to act like children. In the child care
center, children are given individualized attention while being
engaged in therapeutic play activities designed to relieve stress
and calm fears.

DCC recognizes that parents are the primary resource for their
children. Child care services are designed to support parents by
giving them freedom to secure assistance with the assurance that
their children are in a safe and secure environment in which to
play. Parents are also helped to understand their children’s needs
in the aftermath of disaster.

Disaster Child Care Volunteer: All volunteers must complete a
Level I (27 hour) training workshop and all other requirements
to become a certified Disaster Child Care volunteer.