Health & Human services

Disability, Access, and Functional Needs (DAFN) Unit, Public Health Emergency Management

The DAFN Unit engages with community members, community-based organizations, and leaders to listen and attain feedback on how to enhance the City’s public health emergency preparedness planning process. These partnerships, encourage community resiliency and trust. 

By incorporating and operationalizing considerations for all people into emergency planning and response, we ensure that everyone regardless of their abilities, identity and socio-economic status has equal access to necessary services, resources, and support during crises.

Contact Us

For more information, contact the Disability, Access, and Functional Needs (DAFN) Unit at:
 HE-DAFN@longbeach.gov

Sensory Area For Everyone (S.A.F.E.) Vehicle

The S.A.F.E. vehicle is a mobile sensory service that prioritizes the needs of the DAFN community. This new resource, which is the first of its kind in the city, serves as a sensory relief room for community members who seek immediate comfort in high-stress or noisy environments during or after an emergency/disaster. 

By offering this new resource, the Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) division strengthens its emergency planning and response efforts, focusing on inclusivity and accessibility and actively dismantling barriers that exclude community members with sensory needs.

View news and stories about the S.A.F.E. vehicle: CBS | Long Beach Post | Press-Telegram

Upcoming Events	Resources
Check Out Our Latest Newsletter Here!	Emergency Preparedness Toolkit

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is DAFN?

  It is a term used in public health emergency management to refer to people who may need additional assistance due to a condition (temporary or permanent) that limits their ability to act before, during, and after an emergency. Someone with a disability, access, and/or functional need may include, but is not limited to: 

  • People with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities 

  • People with chronic or acute conditions or injuries  

  • People with invisible disabilities  

  • People with limited transportation access or who rely on paratransit (Dial A Ride) and public transportation.  

  • People with limited income   

  • People with Substance Use and Misuse   

  • People who are pregnant   

  • People experiencing homelessness.   

  • People living in long-term care facilities.   

  • People with Limited English Proficiency and Non-English Speakers   

  • People who are part of Refugee, Immigrant and Migrant communities  

  • People who identify as LGBTQIAS2+  

  • People with low-vision or who are Blind  

  • People who are hard of hearing or are Deaf  

  • Households with infants and small children  

  • Multi-generational households where grandparents or older adults live within the household.  

• How many persons self-identified as living with a disability in the City of Long Beach?

  Per the U.S. Census, a total of 50,214 persons self-identified as living with a disability in the City of Long Beach. Individuals with disabilities and their families are disproportionately affected by natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and public health emergencies.