National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters

The National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters is a federal advisory committee that provides advice and guidance to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and to the HHS Secretary. The Committee provides expert advice and guidance to enhance all-hazards public health and medical preparedness, response, and recovery aimed at meeting the unique needs of children and their families across the entire spectrum of their wellbeing. 

The Committee has 13 voting members with a broad range of expertise in science, medicine and public health including pediatric emergency medicine, treatment for impacts from chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear agents including emerging infectious diseases; disaster planning, preparedness, response and recovery; mental health, schools and childcare settings, children and youth with special health care needs as well as the needs of parents and family caregivers.

David Schonfeld, MD, FAAP
Chair, National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters​

David J. Schonfeld, MD, FAAP is a developmental-behavioral pediatrician; he founded and directs the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Dr. Schonfeld is Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Keck School of Medicine. For over 30 years, he has provided consultation and training to schools on supporting students and staff at times of crisis and loss in the aftermath of numerous school crisis events and disasters within the United States and abroad.
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