Delaware County, Indiana

INDIANA ONE OF FIRST STATES TO DEVELOP PREPAREDNESS GUIDE FOR CHILD CARE PROVIDERS

Protecting Hoosier families and their children has taken another step forward with the release of a new comprehensive guide for disaster preparedness for child care providers.

"There are a few states that have a similar guide, but none that we found contain the amount of detail and collaboration from outside resources," said Nancy Morris, Emergency Preparedness Planner, Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS). "Indiana will also be the first to design a training program that helps providers really understand what they should have in their emergency plans."

Currently, child care providers are only required to have a plan in case of fire or severe weather situations. However a need was expressed for a guide to help child care providers plan for all hazards.

The guide was developed in partnership among the IDHS, Indiana School of Medicine - Emergency Medical Services for Children, Riley Children's Hospital, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Indiana Department of Education, Indiana State Department of Health - Public Health Preparedness and Emergency Response, the Indiana Association for Child Care Resource and Referral and the Indiana Family Social Services Administration.

"The guide has been well received by the child care community," Morris said. "The plan provides valuable resources to the people who take care of one of Indiana's most precious assets."

In addition to the guide, a training program is being developed that will help child care providers develop plans that are tailored to their specific situations and ways to practice the plans that are developed.

The training program is the second phase of the project. The Bureau of Child Care is incorporating it with the Path to Quality program, a nationally recognized program. The Child Care Preparedness Guide can be found on either childcarefinder.in.gov or dhs.in.gov.