Public-Private Partnerships: A Whole Community Approach to Addressing Children's Needs in Disasters

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can effectively achieve mutual goals by sharing resources and information and building on partners' strengths. Although PPPs are used in emergency management, little documented research exists on how they are used to support a Whole Community approach to emergency management. This article reviews literature on how such partnerships can support a Whole Community approach to meeting children's needs before, during, and after disasters. Recent examples of PPPs supporting planning and response to children's needs in disasters are provided; and these examples demonstrate effectiveness in planning and advocacy at local, regional, and national levels. Public-private partnerships should continue to be developed and assessed in the context of Whole Community planning to ensure that community, and specifically, children's needs in disasters are identified and addressed.