Already displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, thousands of families in FEMA-subsidized temporary housing in Louisiana are facing a second crisis, according to a new study issued today by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health and The Children's Health Fund.
The study found this displaced group is suffering from a host of serious medical and mental health problems, but receiving little or no treatment.
"On The Edge -- The Louisiana Child & Family Health Study" was conducted by Operation Assist, a collaboration between Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and The Children's Health Fund.
From February 11 through February 20, 2006, the survey team interviewed 665 randomly-selected households among the 12,000 households (representing more than 30,000 people) in FEMA-subsidized community housing in Louisiana.
The study concluded that failing to provide stable health and mental health care will likely have long-term consequences.
For example, a parent's untreated depression increases the risk of mental health problems in their children, who in this case are already psychologically vulnerable.
Additional planning should address the ability of schools to reach out and engage students and their families in emergency and transitional housing settings.
About the Mailman School of Public Health The only accredited school of public health in New York City, and among the first in the nation Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health provides instruction and research opportunities to more than 950 graduate students in pursuit of masters and doctoral degrees.
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