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The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) and Child Care Aware do not endorse nor are we responsible for the information or materials posted on any of the resource’s websites.Being Prepared for Emergencies
May 18, 2007
When choosing child care, parents put their child's safety and well-being at the top of the list of things to look for. They look for a caregiver who will offer a safe setting for their child. They look for a caregiver who will keep children's best interests in mind. A visit to a child care program may include talking with the provider about caregiver training; group size; daily activities; and safety guidelines such as hand washing, playground safety, and diapering practices.
But parents should also look for a program's emergency plan. If there is a disaster or emergency while your child is with a caregiver, you should know that the caregiver can protect the health and safety of your child.
NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, has started a national child care disaster planning initative, the first of its kind. This is an effort to train providers, inform parents, and partner with local, state, and federal agencies to make sure that every child in child care is safe in the face of disaster.
Here are some things to talk about with your provider in regard to their disaster plan. Talk about the what, when, where and how of their emergency plan. Use the questions below, adapted from NACCRRA's parent brochure, What's the Plan?: Ask Your Child Care Provider Before a Disaster.
- Does your caregiver have an emergency plan in place? If so, ask for a copy. If not, ask your provider to write one.
- In the event of severe damage to the child care facility, know how your child will be taken to a new location. This place should be both safe and suitable for care to continue.
- Know how lines of communication will be kept open. Make sure that your caregiver has your updated phone number, and that you have all of your caregiver's updated emergency contact information.
- Talk about what will happen if your child has to stay with his/her caregiver as a result of the emergency. If you are not able to pick your child up right away after the emergency, could your caregiver properly care for your child for 72 hours?
- Discuss any supply or disaster kits that your provider has. Do they have enough supplies to care for children for at least 72 hours? If there are not kits available, work with other parents to make it happen.
- Know what training your caregiver and his/her staff have had related to continuing proper care in emergencies. Ask if anyone has had any special training to work with your child's physical and emotional needs at this time.
- Offer your help. Ask what you can do to help your provider write an emergency plan or carry out a current plan.
- Talk about whether or not local emergency agencies are aware of your child's program and where it is located.
- Talk with your caregiver about how you will be notified when the program is re-opened.
Be sure you talk things over with your child care provider. If there is something you have questions about or are concerned with, ask questions. Make sure you have the information you're looking for.
For more information on disaster planning, and to download a free copy of What's the Plan?, visit NACCRRA's website at www.naccrra.org/parent/coping/disaster.php, or call 1-800-424-2246.
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