“Organization” covers a lot of ground, so here is what we mean. These pages are for the groups who end up in front of families with babies and young children after a disaster — whether or not infant feeding was ever in your remit.
You do not need to be an infant feeding organization. Most of the people doing this work are not. Find the one that matches what you actually do:
Points of Distribution
You are handing out supplies — a parking lot, a church, a pop‑up site. What arrives on a pallet is rarely what a six‑month‑old needs, and formula handed out without a conversation can do harm. Start here for what to stock, what to ask, and what to hand a family.
Shelters & Congregate Areas
You are running a space where families are living, sleeping and feeding in public. Signage, a place to feed, safe water and clean feeding items are the difference between a family coping and a family in crisis.
VOADs
You coordinate the organizations doing the responding. Infant feeding usually has no owner at the coordination table — this is how to give it one before the next event.
Disaster Case Managers & Direct Survivor Support
You are sitting with one family at a time, working through what they need. Feeding a baby comes up constantly and rarely gets asked about directly. This is what to listen for and what to offer.
Emergency Management and Preparedness
You work inside a county or state agency, or you coordinate preparedness for a health department. Infant feeding usually has no assigned lead in the plan. This is where it sits in your structure, what is reimbursable, and what to put in writing before anything happens.
For emergency managers and planners
If you work inside a county or state agency, or you coordinate preparedness for a health department, none of the categories above will describe you exactly. Start at Emergency Management and Preparedness Coordinators instead.
Not sure which one you are?
Most groups are more than one of these, and the resources overlap on purpose. If you are still working out whether your community needs an infant feeding response at all, start with Build It In Your Community instead — it walks through the whole thing in order.
Supporting families directly rather than an organization? Resources for Families & Caregivers is written for them.
Building local capability before anything happens? See Local IYCF‑E Preparedness.