{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,6]],"date-time":"2026-11-06T16:25:52Z","timestamp":1793982352380,"version":"4.8.0"},"reference-count":12,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]],"date-time":"2026-10-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790812800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"funder":[{"name":"Health Resources and Services Administration","award":["U1IMC43532"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["U1IMC43532"]}],"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/0121dpf30","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Health Security"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Following a disaster, each passing hour and day of family separation erodes children\u2019s health and wellbeing. Hospital networks must prioritize expeditious reunifications while safeguarding children, yet despite advances in biometric technologies and data protection, healthcare systems and disaster response organizations are unprepared to integrate biometric tools into postdisaster family reunification strategies. Biometric data (eg, fingerprints, facial images, dental records, DNA data) are deployed routinely for postmortem disaster victim identifications; however, deployment for family reunifications, such as in hospital settings, is hindered by access challenges, technological limitations, and perceived risks. Although DNA kinship analysis is particularly valuable for reunification, not only for postmortem identifications but also for reconnecting genetic relatives, especially children who cannot self-identify, varying attitudes towards biometrics may limit its use. Understanding discomfort with biometric technologies among families and healthcare providers is critical to their effective deployment for reunifications. We therefore sought to (1) assess perceived utility of and willingness to use biometric data in varied postdisaster contexts and (2) identify postdisaster family separation scenarios where biometric technologies could be beneficial. Using child separation vignettes featuring varied disaster types, scales, and timelines, we surveyed 364 caregivers and 131 healthcare providers in the Chicago area. The results showed general support for the use of DNA and facial recognition technology in postdisaster family reunifications. In parallel, we documented real-life separation scenarios, capturing key factors influencing the utility of biometric tools. Findings suggest that disaster preparedness that considers the potential for family separation must include strategies to effectively use biometric data to assist reunifications, in accordance with the best interests of the child.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/23265094261489525","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,8]],"date-time":"2026-10-08T04:23:04Z","timestamp":1791433384000},"page":"365-375","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Perspectives on and Utility of DNA Data and Facial Recognition Technologies to Aid Postdisaster Family Reunifications"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"24","author":[{"given":"Diana","family":"Madden","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Diana Madden, MA, is a Behavioral Research Coordinator; Nathan Reed, BA, is a Research Assistant; Marie E. Heffernan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor; and Sara Huston, MS, is Research Assistant Professor; all at the Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Marie E. Heffernan is also Assistant Professor and Sara Huston is also Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Zoe Wolfers, BA, is a Research Assistant, Institute for Human Biology and Society; and Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics; both at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nathan","family":"Reed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diana Madden, MA, is a Behavioral Research Coordinator; Nathan Reed, BA, is a Research Assistant; Marie E. Heffernan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor; and Sara Huston, MS, is Research Assistant Professor; all at the Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Marie E. Heffernan is also Assistant Professor and Sara Huston is also Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Zoe Wolfers, BA, is a Research Assistant, Institute for Human Biology and Society; and Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics; both at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zoe","family":"Wolfers","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diana Madden, MA, is a Behavioral Research Coordinator; Nathan Reed, BA, is a Research Assistant; Marie E. Heffernan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor; and Sara Huston, MS, is Research Assistant Professor; all at the Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Marie E. Heffernan is also Assistant Professor and Sara Huston is also Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Zoe Wolfers, BA, is a Research Assistant, Institute for Human Biology and Society; and Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics; both at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jennifer K.","family":"Wagner","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diana Madden, MA, is a Behavioral Research Coordinator; Nathan Reed, BA, is a Research Assistant; Marie E. Heffernan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor; and Sara Huston, MS, is Research Assistant Professor; all at the Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Marie E. Heffernan is also Assistant Professor and Sara Huston is also Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Zoe Wolfers, BA, is a Research Assistant, Institute for Human Biology and Society; and Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics; both at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marie E.","family":"Heffernan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diana Madden, MA, is a Behavioral Research Coordinator; Nathan Reed, BA, is a Research Assistant; Marie E. Heffernan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor; and Sara Huston, MS, is Research Assistant Professor; all at the Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Marie E. Heffernan is also Assistant Professor and Sara Huston is also Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Zoe Wolfers, BA, is a Research Assistant, Institute for Human Biology and Society; and Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics; both at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elizabeth","family":"Barnert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diana Madden, MA, is a Behavioral Research Coordinator; Nathan Reed, BA, is a Research Assistant; Marie E. Heffernan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor; and Sara Huston, MS, is Research Assistant Professor; all at the Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Marie E. Heffernan is also Assistant Professor and Sara Huston is also Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Zoe Wolfers, BA, is a Research Assistant, Institute for Human Biology and Society; and Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics; both at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sara","family":"Huston","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Diana Madden, MA, is a Behavioral Research Coordinator; Nathan Reed, BA, is a Research Assistant; Marie E. Heffernan, PhD, is an Assistant Professor; and Sara Huston, MS, is Research Assistant Professor; all at the Ann &amp; Robert H. Lurie Children\u2019s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Marie E. Heffernan is also Assistant Professor and Sara Huston is also Research Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Zoe Wolfers, BA, is a Research Assistant, Institute for Human Biology and Society; and Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics; both at the University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Jennifer K. Wagner, JD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, School of Engineering Design and Innovation, Penn State University, University Park, PA."}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_2_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40746-017-0097-5"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/dmp.2019.32"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fsigen.2008.05.008"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_5_1","unstructured":"4.Barnert E Katsanis SH. DNA family reunification and pediatric disasters: lessons and priority research agenda. Presented at: Pediatric Pandemic Network monthly meeting; October 12 2022; online."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1109\/TTS.2021.3120317"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_7_1","unstructured":"6.Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act 740 Ill Comp Stat 14 (2008)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0213766"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_9_1","unstructured":"8.Children\u2019s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 15 USC \u00a76501-6506."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_10_1","unstructured":"9.Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act 410 Ill Comp Stat 513 (1998)."},{"key":"e_1_3_2_11_1","unstructured":"10.Grother P Ngan M Hanaoka K. Face Recognition Technology Evaluation (FRTE). Part 2: Identification. NIST Interagency Report 8271. Washington DC: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); 2026. Accessed September 2 2026. https:\/\/pages.nist.gov\/frvt\/reports\/1N\/frvt_1N_report.pdf#page=17.09"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_12_1","first-page":"1","article-title":"A large-scale clinical benchmark of ResNet-based deep models for newborn face recognition","author":"Wu C","year":"2023","unstructured":"11.Wu C, , Huang D, , Ren L, , Lu H, , Wang W. A large-scale clinical benchmark of ResNet-based deep models for newborn face recognition. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2023:1-4.","journal-title":"Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc"},{"key":"e_1_3_2_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/dmp.2016.207"}],"container-title":["Health Security"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/23265094261489525","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/23265094261489525","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/23265094261489525","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,11,6]],"date-time":"2026-11-06T15:46:31Z","timestamp":1793979991000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/23265094261489525"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]},"references-count":12,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/23265094261489525"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/23265094261489525","relation":{},"ISSN":["2326-5094","2326-5108"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2326-5094","type":"print"},{"value":"2326-5108","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,1]]}}}