This is an article by Jennifer Stansberry Miller, an Article Out Loud from Domestic Preparedness, May 28, 2025.
In moments of crisis, a well-executed family assistance center can offer clarity, connection, and compassion that victims’ families and survivors need to begin making sense of loss and change. Family assistance centers provide resources for support services, updates on victim identification, assistance with repatriation of remains, and reunification efforts.
Learn how tone, timing, setting, and cultural sensitivity significantly impact the psychological well-being of those affected.
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Jennifer Stansberry Miller
Jennifer Stansberry Miller, MSW, LCSW, is the director of crisis solutions at Empathia, bringing over 25 years of experience in crisis response, mental health advocacy, and family assistance. A family member of a victim from the 1994 American Eagle Flight 4184 disaster, Jennifer blends personal experience with professional expertise to prioritize the human element in emergency preparedness. She was one of the key advocates for the Aviation Disaster Family Assistance Act of 1996, transforming how victims’ families are supported after aviation disasters. In her current role, Jennifer oversees the development and management of crisis support programs, providing innovative solutions to help individuals and organizations navigate crisis situations. She has coauthored pivotal research on aviation disaster response and designed programs that have supported thousands in crisis across aviation, healthcare, and emergency management sectors, including the FEMA Crisis Counseling Program. Jennifer is also a volunteer with the Indiana Region American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health and Mass Casualty Leadership Team and is a technical advisor for the United Kingdom’s Counter Terrorism Preparedness Network’s Humanitarian Assistance and Psychosocial Support subcommittee. She resides outside Indianapolis, Indiana, with her family, and continues to apply her experience to improve disaster response and family assistance strategies.
