Recovery is what a program does to restart services as soon as possible after an emergency, and what it does to help everyone cope. The first recovery efforts often focus on restoring access to food, water, shelter, and safety. 

Health managers can help their Head Start program do what is possible to meet the education, nutrition, and health and mental health needs of children and families until the program can restart full operations. Recovery continues through the repair, rebuild, and restart of normal routines. It can last for days, weeks, or months — or even years during a pandemic.

Tips and Strategies for Supporting Emergency Response Efforts

• Help families get health and mental health care.
• Help your program adapt its health and mental health, nutrition, and education services during a long disaster recovery.
• Consult with local public health officials to review your infectious disease procedures and to use the most current public health data and ways to reduce risk.
• Work with your emergency task force to review and revise your plan.

Learn More

• ACF Post-disaster Housing Resources
• Head Start Heals: Animated Series — Beginning Again

Last Updated: May 28, 2025