Emergency preparedness can drastically reduce the negative impact of trauma and stress on children. Find concrete steps program staff can take to prepare for emergencies and reduce trauma.
Hear from Office of Head Start leadership as they discuss the impacts of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) on grantee operations. They also answer questions related to COVID-19 prevention and response.
Programs can use this manual as a guide for their emergency planning process. Find the latest tools and resources to support children, families, and communities before, during, and after an emergency. An emergency may be a catastrophic natural event, like a hurricane, flood, or wildfire, or a man-made disaster, such as a shooting. No matter the crisis, early childhood programs need to be ready with impact, relief, and recovery plans.
Programs need to know how to prepare for and respond to potentially violent situations. Use this tip sheet to review recommended responses and resources to help programs create or revise plans.
Learn more about how your program can prepare for winter emergencies. Find tips on how to handle issues such as frostbite, hypothermia, and loss of power.
In this webinar, learn how to use the Emergency Preparedness Manual for Early Childhood Programs. Explore how to develop emergency plans to keep children, families, and staff safe if disaster strikes.
In the Embracing Health and Wellness series, learn about current research topics. Explore best practices and safety tips for Head Start and child care programs.
Use this tip sheet on mudslides and landslides to find out how to gauge risk, know what to do, and practice plans.
Tornadoes can happen anytime. Use this tip sheet to review tornado warning signs and learn what's required of and useful for practicing your disaster plan.
In programs, all managers, staff, and families embrace the belief that children have the right to be safe by creating a culture of safety. They provide "an environment that encourages people to speak up about safety concerns, makes it safe to talk about mistakes and errors, and encourages learning from these events." Children are safer when managers, staff, and families work together to improve the strategies they use in homes, centers, and the community so children don't get hurt. Explore the resources below to learn more about creating a culture of safety.