Page 42 - Creating a Community of Resiliency

Preparedness and Response Readiness: Providers
“Yearly hands on training such as on-site practice drills would help better prepare for emergencies.”
 Chinese-speaking, family child care provider More Training and More Often
“We need reminders and updates. If we have more classes more often, it will help us be more prepared.”
 Spanish-speaking, family child care provider How to Prepare Psychologically
“We could say that we are prepared because we have water, a flashlight, and food, but psychologically, we are not [prepared]. We need somebody to teach us how to be in control of the situation.”
 Spanish-speaking, family child care provider
“Concept is more important. We need to keep the children safe. It’s the psychology about it – keep it calm and know your roles and responsibilities. For example, who is going to be great with the parents?”
 English-speaking, center-based provider
Provide Resources on How to Communicate with Parents
“We need resources on how to communicate with parents what they need to do. They are in the valley and the interstate has fallen and their child is in daycare. They need to know what they need to do. They just aren’t thinking and they don’t think about us. We have 130 kids and we can’t care for them longer than 3 to 5 days.”
 English-speaking, center-based provider
Parent Involvement in Emergency Preparedness at the Child Care Site
Early care and education providers discussed involving parents in emergency preparedness both by providing them with information about emergency preparedness and by involving them in emergency preparedness activities, such as fire drills at the child care sites and participating in an emergency preparedness advisory group. Providers recommended making the advisory group meetings accessible by providing child care during those meetings so that parents can attend, offering incentives, making the meetings short to accommodate parents’ busy schedules, and imparting the importance of the meetings by making them mandatory or part of the parent orientation.
Have Meetings and Trainings for Parents
“We could also have a disaster preparedness day to just practice. We have spaghetti nights and back to school nights. Why wouldn’t they come?”
 English-speaking, center-based provider (CCRC-Antelope Valley)
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