Preparedness
Planning requires thinking about what would happen if an emergency occurred.
- What partners can help with local damage assessments so that children are safe?
- How would our licensing staff do their job if their cars were flooded?
- What would happen if child care was needed for essential workers (for example, convenience store employees and well-paid medical staff)?
- How will information and data be collected to describe the scope and severity of the impact? What alternative information-collection methods can be put in place when electricity or connectivity is out?
Preparation follows to put the partnerships, policies, processes, and protocols in place. Consider whether you can do the following:
- Expand a relationship or partnership with other agencies that have local staff and already monitor child care providers, such as the health sanitarian and fire marshal.
- Develop a policy for the use of personal vehicles or establish a contingency contract with a car fleet. Ensure the policy allows staff in unaffected areas to be deployed for an emergency response.
- Establish language that can be added to administrative rules allowing flexibility in emergencies or disasters at the discretion of the agency head.
- Ensure data and management systems have disaster or alternative use codes and develop protocols that include more traditional approaches such as landline phones, paper checks, and mail delivery.
Preparedness resources include examples and suggestions that support the ongoing planning for emergencies and disasters by both Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agencies and direct child-serving practitioners.
This section identifies resources for CCDF Lead Agencies as well as resources a CCDF Lead Agency may adopt or adapt for child care providers.
Developing a Disaster Plan for State-Level Preparedness: Federal Guidance
This information memorandum provides guidance to state, territorial, and Tribal Lead Agencies to assist with the development and implementation of the statewide disaster plan (or disaster plan for a Tribe’s service area) for child care.
- Appendix A is a “Checklist for Developing Child Care Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans.”
- Appendix B describes “Emergency Preparedness and Response Resources for Child Care.”
This website includes resources for child care businesses and families. It also includes social media toolkits and a preparedness messaging calendar that can help CCDF Lead Agencies keep planning and practicing for emergencies as part of ongoing outreach.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA offers training, resources, and immediate relief via help line services like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Disaster Distress Helpline.
Technical Assistance Resources
Collaboration with Key Partners Tool: Statewide Child Care Disaster Plan
This customizable tool from the Child Care State Capacity Building Center (SCBC) can be used to develop and track key contacts for revisions to the plan and as a contact list in disaster response and recovery.
Tip Sheet: CCDF Flexibilities in Disaster Response and Recovery
Flexibility is an important part of the CCDF program and disaster response. This tool from SCBC can support planning discussions and decisionmaking after disasters by describing the reason for action as well as the CCDF provision that may be amended.
This tool from SCBC’s Infant/Toddler Specialist Network is designed to support state child care leaders and other infant/toddler partners as they assess, prioritize, plan, implement, and evaluate state policies to strengthen the quality of child care services received by infants, toddlers, and their families. A new goal (Goal 6. Infants and toddlers are supported through emergencies and disasters) can help you think about policies that meet the needs of this vulnerable population of children and families and the infant/toddler workforce.
This suite of resources includes titles such as the following:
- Responding to Disaster and Emergencies: Helpful Child Care Information to Share
This tip sheet provides resource topics and frequently asked questions that state and territory CCDF Administrators may consider when developing content and resources to post on their consumer education website in response to an emergency or disaster. - Leveraging Child Care Consumer Education Websites during Emergencies and Disasters
This suite of resources includes a webinar, tips and best practices, and an assessment tool. - Considerations for Emergency Child Care: Information and Tips for Families and Providers
During a public health emergency, the ability of families and providers to successfully transition to emergency child care when necessary is crucial. This resource provides a list of tips and considerations for transitioning to using or providing emergency child care.
CCDF Health and Safety Requirements Brief #6: Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning
This brief from the National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance was updated in 2020 and provides an overview of requirements for emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or an emergency such as violence at a child care facility.
A Quick Guide to CCDF Disaster Plan Continuity
Lead Agencies must address the continuation of child care services and subsidies in their CCDF disaster plan while child care providers need to describe how they will continue child care operations during a disaster. This guide from SCBC can help Lead Agencies think about what is needed for each type of continuity.
Refining CCDF Disaster Plans Following the COVID-19 Pandemic
This discussion brief from SCBC identifies disaster response and recovery considerations brought to light during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the strategies and approaches used during the pandemic may also be appropriate for other more localized emergency and disaster responses.
Developing a Disaster Plan for Child Care Providers
These resources include information that may be used by Lead Agencies, their contractors, and providers to support the development of the child care emergency plan in a child care center or family child care home. These resources include information on the following topics:
- Evacuation
- Shelter in place
- Lockdown
- Continuity of operations
- Communication and reunification with families
- Accommodations for the following
- Infants and toddler
- Children with disabilities
- Children with chronic medical conditions
Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs
This resource from the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness includes helpful information and lists for child care centers and family child care providers.
Resource Guide: Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Resources for Child Care Programs
Child care programs should plan and prepare for any emergency events (minor as well as catastrophic) that might affect them. A plan helps program staff ensure the safety of children and staff in an emergency. Emergency plans also promote continuity of care. Having a plan to restore business as soon as possible can reduce the risks of clientele and income loss. This SCBC resource will help child care programs develop or update their emergency plans. This guide is available in English and Spanish.
OST Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Toolkit
The purpose of the toolkit from the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment is to assist out-of-school-time (OST) programs (staff, volunteers, and so on) in developing emergency preparedness plans that address the distinct needs of OST programs.
Supporting Breastfeeding in Child Care Programs During Epidemics
This resource from SCBC’s Infant/Toddler Specialist Network can serve as a guide for modifying existing policies and procedures to ensure ongoing, safe breastfeeding practices in child care programs during epidemics and other infectious disease occurrences.
Return to Child Care and Development Fund Disaster Plans page.