The Gulf Coast Child and Family Health Study (G-CAFH) was a longitudinal study of post-disaster recovery measures in the Mississippi and Louisiana Gulf Coast. Established in 2006, the cohort was comprised of 1,079 randomly selected households sampled from FEMA trailer parks, commercial trailer parks, and community venues. Respondents were surveyed annually regarding their physical and mental health as well as social and economic indicators of recovery.
As of the 5 year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina upon, there were two key pieces of literature released. The Children’s Health Fund and the National Center for Disaster Preparedness released a white paper focusing on the impact of Katrina titled: Legacy of Katrina: The Impact of a Flawed Recovery on Vulnerable Children of the Gulf Coast. An academic research paper titled Children as Bellwethers of Recovery: Dysfunctional Systems and the Effects of Parents, Households, and Neighborhoods on Serious Emotional Disturbance in Children After Hurricane Katrina, has recently been published and is available for free.
For a one-page summary of the G-CAFH Study click here.
Six months following Hurricane Katrina, Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness and the Children’s Health Fund’s Operation Assist conducted a random household survey of the health and well-being of 555 Louisiana households that had been displaced or severely impacted by the disaster. This study focused on identifying health and social service needs among this displaced and heavily-impacted population shortly thereafter the study was replicated in 524 households along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.
The study followed a cohort of 1,079 households in order to assess post-disaster recovery via indicators such as infrastructure rehabilitation and stability, community redevelopment and housing stability, economic recovery, social re-engagement, and personal resilience and recovery.
The first follow-up round of interviews (Wave 2) was conducted in 2007, 20-23 months post-Katrina, and focused specifically on the physical and mental health effects and social and economic consequences resulting from exposure to the hurricane and subsequent displacement.
A second follow-up survey (Wave 3), was conducted in 2008, 33-38 months post-Katrina, but was suspended upon the imminence of Hurricane Gustav. At the time of suspension, 718 of the 1,055 eligible respondents had completed the survey. Immediately after Hurricane Gustav, a supplemental survey was administered to 528 of the already-interviewed 718 respondents from G-CAFH Wave 3, allowing for pre- and post- Gustav comparison. After about 4 weeks, the Hurricane Gustav Supplemental survey was completed regular Wave 3 interviews resumed. Wave 3 was completed with 777 interviews.
Future interview waves will continue to investigate the G-CAFH objectives of understanding the ongoing health and social service needs of children and families affected by Hurricane Katrina, exploring factors associated with resiliency and recovery, and tracking individual-level measures of recovery.
Email: gcafh@columbia.edu
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