8.5 Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan

Lead Agencies must establish a Statewide Child Care Disaster Plan and demonstrate how they will address the needs of children—including the need for safe child care before, during, and after a state of emergency declared by the Governor or a major disaster or emergency (as defined by Section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5122)—through a Statewide Disaster Plan. 8.5.1 Statewide Disaster Plan updates a. When was the Lead Agency’s Child Care Disaster Plan most recently updated and for what reason? The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), in partnership with other state agencies, wrote the California Statewide Interagency Childcare Disaster Plan – 2020 to meet areas of non-compliance. The existing California Child Care Disaster Plan 2016 fell short in describing the collaboration between partner agencies at the state and local levels. The new plan describes the relationship of the existing Childcare Disaster Plan 2016 within the context of the new Statewide Interagency Childcare Disaster Plan – 2020. This was needed to ensure the plan was developed in collaboration with other state and local partners and that it met the requirements to demonstrate how child care services would be provided before, during and after an emergency or disaster. Since the transition of child care and development programs from California Department of Education (CDE) to CDSS, in July 2021, processes needed to be updated again, resulting in the most recent Statewide Interagency Child Care Disaster Plan 2023. Specifically, the Statewide Interagency Child Care Disaster Plan – 2023, focuses on three main sections. The first section is “Before = Preparedness” plan, including how the California Child Care Disaster Plan 2016 is used at the local level to support providers in establishing the required procedures for evacuation, relocation, shelter-in-place, lock-down, communication and reunification with families, continuity of operations, accommodations of infants and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children with chronic medical conditions. Additionally, this section now includes current Health and Safety Codes and Licensing Regulations for licensed child care centers and family child care homes to demonstrate how the state meets the requirements for Procedures for staff and volunteer emergency preparedness training and practice drills, including training requirements for child care providers. In the second section, “During = Communication” plan, the plan describes in detail the roles and responsibilities of local and state-level child care entities during state of emergency, the communication system for temporary operating standards, continuation of payment, expedited background checks and other adjustment of state requirements for child care during a state of emergency, and data and information gathering systems among local and state agencies to meet local need for emergency supplies to maintain child care. In section three of the plan, “After = Recovery”, the plan includes the processes for ensuring the continuity of services after the emergency. Finally, the state added several attachments, including Child Care State Agency Partners and Contact Information, State Agency Communication Flow Chart, Licensing Status Update Data Points via SharePoint, Report to Region IX Administration for Children and Families, and an appendix, which includes relevant links to California Code of Regulations and Health and Safety Code that was referenced within the document. Finally, the California Statewide Interagency Child Care Disaster Plan provides updated information on the Everbridge automated emergency notification system. During an emergency or disaster, CDSS-Child Care and Development Division activates the Everbridge system. Everbridge determines which licensed care facilities are impacted and can access information from those facilities through a mass notification process using the most current contact information on file (text, email, phone). The system allows for quick status response and helps determine which facilities have immediate needs. The use of Everbridge has dramatically reduced the number of direct phone calls to facilities and improves response time and efficient communication and collaboration between state agencies responsible for child care. b. Please certify compliance by checking the required elements the Lead Agency includes in the current State Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan. i. The plan was developed in collaboration with the following required entities: • X State human services agency. • X State emergency management agency. • X State licensing agency. • X State health department or public health department. • X Local and State child care resource and referral agencies. • X State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care or similar coordinating body. ii. X The plan includes guidelines for the continuation of child care subsidies. iii. ☐ X The plan includes guidelines for the continuation of child care services. iv. ☐ X The plan includes procedures for the coordination of post-disaster recovery of child care services. v. ☐ X The plan contains requirements for all CCDF providers (both licensed and license-exempt) to have in place: • X Procedures for evacuation. • X Procedures for relocation. • X Procedures for shelter-in-place. • X Procedures for communication and reunification with families. • X Procedures for continuity of operations. • X Procedures for accommodations of infants and toddlers. • X Procedures for accommodations of children with disabilities. vi. X Procedures for accommodations of children with chronic medical conditions. vii. ☐ X The plan contains procedures for staff and volunteer emergency preparedness training. viii. ☐ X The plan contains procedures for staff and volunteer practice drills. ix. If any of the above are not checked, describe: Not applicable. x. If available, provide the direct URL/website link to the website where the Statewide Child Care Disaster Plan is posted: Statewide Interagency Child Care Disaster Plan 2023 9. Family Outreach and Consumer Education CCDF consumer education requirements facilitate parental choice in child care arrangements, support parents as child care consumers who need information to make informed choices regarding the services that best suit their family’s needs, and the delivery of resources that can support child development and well-being. Lead Agency consumer education activities must provide information for parents receiving CCDF assistance, the general public, and, when appropriate, child care providers. Lead Agencies should use targeted strategies for each group to ensure tailored consumer education information and take steps to ensure they are effectively reaching all individuals, including those with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities. In this section, Lead Agencies address their consumer education practices, including details about their child care consumer education website, and the process for collecting and maintaining a record of parental complaints.