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 following sections of the Georgia Statewide Child Care Emergency Plan were updated in October 2023. The introduction was updated to include direct links to the Plan for ease and accessibility in locating information. Section 1.4.5 for Georgia’s Pre-K Program was updated to include steps for notifying the Lead Agency and clarification regarding processing payments and communication in the event of emergency closures of the program. Section 2 was updated to add language to include emergencies and expand the definition of emergencies and disasters as sudden and serious events or unforeseen changes in circumstances that require immediate action to alleviate harm or avert imminent danger to life, health, or property and to include examples of weather-related events and public health emergencies. Section 3.1.1 was updated to provide links to sample templates of emergency preparedness plans for licensed child care learning centers (CCLC) and family child care learning homes (FCCLH). Section 3.2.3 was updated to include Lead Agency staff appropriately trained through Child Care Aware of America as DECAL-approved training vendors who may offer Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery training to child care providers. Section 4.1.1 was updated to add an additional path of action in modifying services as a response to plan execution. Section 4.1.2 was updated to add information regarding communication with DECAL to align with Lead Agency required reporting procedures. Language was added to reflect that child care providers shall immediately notify DECAL with information regarding impact to their program. The provider must follow the requirements of child care learning center or family child care learning home rules and regulations relating to reporting any cases of viruses or illnesses identified during a public health emergency; any death or serious injury of a child while in the care of the facility; any fire, structural disaster, or emergency situation that requires temporarily relocating children; and any changes in the program’s operating status. In addition, Section 4 was also updated to require that providers notify DECAL using their DECAL KOALA accounts to align with Lead Agency required reporting rules and regulations. Section 7.1.1 was updated to reflect language regarding required reporting as it relates to CCLC or FCCLH rules and regulations. Section 7.2.4 was updated to remove the 90-day requirement for the Quality Rated assessment window and to add language that allows for post recovery time needed for temporary relocations and/or damage repairs in scheduling assessments. Section 7.3.2 was updated to add local government entities such as fire marshal or building code inspections that may be needed to assess structural damage in the event of damage. Section 8.1.1 was updated to add language regarding maintaining current information within DECAL KOALA provider accounts to allow for Lead Agency communication with the provider community. Section 10 and Section 12 were updated with additional resource weblinks and correcting inactive or changed weblinks previously included. 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. 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. [x] Procedures for accommodations of children with chronic medical conditions. vi. [x] The plan contains procedures for staff and volunteer emergency preparedness training. vii. [x] The plan contains procedures for staff and volunteer practice drills. viii. If any of the above are not checked, describe: ix. If available, provide the direct URL/website link to the website where the Statewide Child Care Disaster Plan is posted: https://www.decal.ga.gov/documents/attachments/DECALEmergplan.pdf 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.