Children & Disasters: Preparing Child Care Programs for Pandemic Influenza

Side Menu

Preparing Child Care Programs for Pandemic Influenza

In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) completed a needs assessment of 1500 licensed child care centers. Results show that more can be done to prepare the early education and child care community for a pandemic influenza. Top choices for improving preparedness were participation in training sessions, use of print materials, and access to downloadable or interactive Web-based tools.

Communication
During a pandemic, a strong connection between child care and public health leaders is critical because recommendations and communication strategies evolve rapidly. Early education and child care programs need to be aware of existing mechanisms for information dissemination and decision-making. Preparing effectively involves the following tasks:


	Compiling a list of key contacts and their e-mail and phone numbers.
	Assigning responsibilities for who will call whom in what circumstances.
	Distinguishing a “telephone tree” for information sharing from an alert system.

Training
Training sessions on pandemic influenza can achieve the following objectives:


	Improve day-to-day preparedness.
	Identify response plans for active outbreaks or pandemics.
	Engage local pediatricians, health department representatives, and qualified child care health consultants in child care health and safety.
	Keep staff informed of ongoing community preparedness efforts.

The Pandemic Influenza Training Topics handout offers more information.

Steps for Improving Preparedness and Strategies


1.	Develop a written emergency/disaster plan that includes a process and timeline for updating this document.
2.	Maintain a list of community contacts and establish a call system with lists of key phone numbers in advance to communicate during an emergency.
3.	Identify “trusted sources” of health information (eg, CDC, health department, child care health consultant, community pediatricians).
4.	Determine who will monitor and report back on key findings.
5.	Develop a process for sharing key information with staff, parents, and children during an emergency.
6.	Prepare handouts for staff and parents in advance.
7.	Discuss the process for ordering supplies (and maintaining inventory) during times of staff absences or when there is an increased need for certain hygiene or cleaning supplies.
8.	Use seasonal influenza as an opportunity to practice preparedness and response efforts.
9.	Collaborate with community partners on preparedness activities or contingency planning.
10.	Review criteria for and steps involved in facility closure.
11.	Implement steps to support families and employees in the development of personal preparedness plans.

Strategies
In addition to the steps described above, child care programs should be encouraged to implement these new strategies to enhance preparedness:


	Provide seasonal influenza immunizations on site at the child care facility.
	Collaborate with nearby centers on the use of substitutes, mass supply ordering, and/or training.
	Create a Web site or answering service message to provide updates.
	Form a team that includes a child care health consultant and/or local public health representative to make decisions during an outbreak or pandemic.

Resources


	Children and Disasters Web site – Resource for child care providers. (AAP)
	FLU.gov – Managed by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
	Flu Advice for Child Care Providers (Washington Coalition for Safety and Health in Early Learning)
	H1N1 Flu: Resources for Child Care and Early Childhood Programs (CDC)
	Handbook for Family Child Care Providers: Keeping Kids Safe, Your Home Child Care Emergency Plan (Minnesota Department of Human Services)
	Healthy Child Care America Web site (AAP)
	Healthy Child Care Pennsylvania Web site (PA AAP)
	Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools: A Quick Reference Guide, Second Edition – Hand Hygiene and Outbreaks, Epidemics, and Other Infectious Disease Emergencies (AAP)
	Pandemic Flu and Child Care Trainer's Manual – Provides content, handouts, and a PowerPoint presentation that instructors can use to teach early care educators about pandemic flu. The curriculum covers an introduction to the flu, preventing the spread of flu in child care settings, preparing for pandemic flu in child care, and responding to pandemic flu. For more information or to order a copy of the curriculum, e-mail jackie_quirk@unc.edu. (North Carolina Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center)
	Preparing for Pandemic Flu in Child Care Programs (California Child Care Health Program)
	WellCareTracker™ – An immunization tracking and child care health record quality improvement tool. (PA AAP)
	Workshop on Pandemic Flu (PA AAP)

© COPYRIGHT AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.	Site Map \| Contact Us \| Privacy Statement \| About Us \| Home
American Academy of Pediatrics, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elk Grove Village, IL, 60007, 847-434-4000