Emergency Child Care Plan in Response to COVID-19

About the Program

Category: County Administration and Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2021

At the onset of the pandemic in spring of 2020, the County of San Diego proclaimed a local disaster, declared a public health emergency, and activated its emergency operations center to support the COVID-19 response for the County. In parallel during this critical time, various community stakeholders came together to discuss the emergency needs of the childcare sector. This grass roots organization led to the re- activation of the Childcare Disaster Council (CCDC) coordinated by the County Office of Emergency Services. The CCDC created and formalized the COVID-19 Childcare Emergency Response Plan (the Plan). The purpose of the Plan was twofold, first to provide an assessment of the existing childcare need, the capacity in the County, and propose solutions to meet the needs of the essential service workforce. Second, to assess the needs of childcare programs currently operating and coordinate efforts to meet those needs. The Plan has since guided the COVID-19 childcare response and recovery and resulted in provision of much needed resources to support families and providers. The Plan was drafted to address the unprecedented challenges that childcare providers and the families faced in a global pandemic.