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 Division of Child Care did not previously have regulations on emergency licensure during local or statewide emergencies. During 2021, DCC met with partnering agencies including Division of Emergency Management, Department of Public Health, Division of Regulated Child Care, and the University of Kentucky’s Network of Services. DCC received technical assistance from federal partners to review emergency licensure regulations that were currently operational in other areas of the country. This TA has directly resulted in our Child Care Disaster Plan being updated and with an anticipated completion in the fall of 2024. Updates in process include: Details on how the State will address the needs of children, including the need for safe child care, before, during and after a state of emergency event; expanding the Division of Child Care's Emergencies and Disaster Webpage to include the state's disaster plan and supporting documentation; Working with Kentucky Emergency Management and the American Red Cross to collaborate on how to enhance the plan for Child Care; and including additional planning sections for providers specific to training requirements, accommodations and evacuations for staff volunteers, infants, toddlers, and children with chronic medical conditions. Updated December 2021: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/922/002/120/ 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. [ ] 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. [ ] Procedures for accommodations of children with disabilities. [ ] Procedures for accommodations of children with chronic medical conditions. vi. [ ] The plan contains procedures for staff and volunteer emergency preparedness training. vii. [ ] The plan contains procedures for staff and volunteer practice drills. viii. If any of the above are not checked, describe: The Division of Child Care received a non-compliance notice on December 13, 2021 because the monitoring team did not find evidence that DCC has requirements in place for Licensed Type I, Type II, and Certified Family Child Care Providers that include the volunteer practice drill components of emergency preparedness and response planning. Additionally, the monitoring visit did not find evidence of emergency preparedness and response planning and accommodations for infant and toddlers, children with disabilities, and children with chronic medical conditions. At this time DCC is requesting additional time to continue work on the TA received for the emergency preparedness and response planning with the expected completion of the changes being completed by early 2025. Currently the professional development team is working with the Child Care Aware Health and Safety regional manager to update the ￿Licensed Provider Evacuation Planning Form￿ and the ￿Certified Provider Evacuation Planning Form￿ to include planning resources specific to the special populations requested in the TA. DCC Professional Development team is also updating the Emergency Preparedness Training to include specific resources for the special populations requested in the TA, and to award 1 training credit hour to incentivize providers to have their staff take this training for free. Additionally, DCC has updated the regulations to include a more clear definition for the role of ￿volunteers￿ and will be amended the proposed regulation 922 KAR 2:090 to include: Section 9 ￿J) A written plan and diagram outlining the course of action in the event of a natural or manmade disaster, including drills posted in a prominent place; and provided to all staff, volunteers and visitors" And section 10) F) Assure the development, implementation, and monitoring of child-care centers plans, policies, and procedures for staff, volunteers and visitors.￿ And ￿G) Supervise staff, volunteer and visitor conduct to ensure implementation of program policies and procedures.￿ The public comment period will be ending August 31, 2024 and after that is completed we will amend with our internal process for approval of the amendment. The expected time of completion for these regulatory changes are November 2024. ix. If available, provide the direct URL/website link to the website where the Statewide Child Care Disaster Plan is posted: Citation: (https://eec.ky.gov/Energy/Programs/Documents/Emergency%20Operation%20Pl an.pdf) State Emergency Operation Plan Citation: (https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=40523) KRS 199.895 Evacuation plan required for child care centers Citation: (https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/922/002/100/ ) Certified Family Child Care- Updated Regulations 2024 Web Link: (https://www.chfs.ky.gov/agencies/dcbs/dcc/Pages/policies.aspx) Child Care Emergency / Disaster Preparedness Guide 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.