New Resource: Child Care Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Partnership Toolkit for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) play a vital role in supporting child care providers in their emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts through training and technical assistance for child care providers, but also through systems-building and strengthening efforts. Partnerships are key in supporting child care emergency preparedness, response and recovery. Child care emergency preparedness, response and recovery takes collaboration to be successful.   

Partnerships for Child Care Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery 

Emergency response and recovery is more efficient and effective when relationships are built and strengthened during “blue-sky” periods (prior to an event). This allows everyone to be better prepared during “gray-sky” periods (during an event). Establishing partnerships in advance increases the likelihood that trusted partners can be called upon before, during and after a disaster to meet the needs of child care in an efficient and effective manner. 

There is a wide variety of options for potential partners, including emergency managers, community organizations, child care providers and parents. Consider the needs of the community and what partners are available when thinking about establishing partnerships.  

Resource to Support CCR&R Efforts 

Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) created the Child Care Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Partnership Toolkit for CCR&Rs (partnership toolkit) to serve as a resource for CCR&R staff who are working to establish and build partnerships to support child care emergency preparedness, response and recovery efforts. 

Relationships and collaboration are paramount in this work. The partnership toolkit has information and resources for CCR&Rs to better understand how partnerships can support their work in child care emergency preparedness, response and recovery. It shares information about emergency management and gives CCR&Rs information to share with emergency managers and other partners on the topic. The partnership toolkit also offers examples of ways CCR&Rs are already collaborating with organizations to strengthen child care emergency preparedness, response and recovery in communities. 

Putting it into Practice 

Partners will vary based on communities and their needs. Working with these partners truly shows the impact and importance of this work and is an effective way of incorporating children and child care into every conversation when planning for, responding to and recovering from emergencies and disasters. The partnership toolkit includes questions to think about when considering opportunities for partnerships to support child care emergency preparedness, response and recovery in your service area.  

Please let us know if you have a story to share with CCAoA about a partnership to support child care emergency preparedness, response and recovery.  

Visit www.childcareprepare.org for more information about child care emergency preparedness, response and recovery, including an updated page focusing on partnerships.