TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2023//
TI  - Disaster and emergency preparedness and the impact of theCOVID-19 pandemic on child care programs in Michigan: a mixed-methods analysis
JO  - Disaster medicine and public health preparedness
A1  - Budnik, Elizabeth M.
A1  - Hashikawa, Andrew N.
A1  - Cator, Allison
A1  - Bradin, Stuart
A1  - Mangus, Courtney W.
SP  - e377
EP  - e377
VL  - 17
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Historically, the child care industry has been unprepared for emergencies. A previous study identified gaps in Michigan's child care programs' emergency plans. Study objectives were to reassess programs' preparedness plans after introduction of state-mandated emergency plans and to examine the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on programs' operations. <br><br>METHODS: A 29-question survey was sent to ∼500 child care programs across Michigan in 2020 to assess emergency plans and response to COVID-19. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative methods. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 346 programs (70%) responded. Most (92%) reported having a written plan, but one-third reported having no infectious outbreak plan pre-pandemic. One-third of programs lacked plans for special needs children (vs 40% in 2014); 62% lacked plans for child reunification (vs 60% in 2014); 46% reported staff received no preparedness training. COVID-19 impacted programs substantially: 59% closed, 20% decreased capacity, 27% changed disinfecting protocols. Several themes related to the pandemic's effect on programs were identified: (1) changes in learning, (2) changes in socialization, (3) increased family burden, (4) financial challenges, (5) lack of guidance. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Significant preparedness gaps remain among Michigan's child care programs, suggesting the need for increased support and addition of emergency preparedness to programs' quality ratings.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1935-7893
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/dmp.2023.32
ID  - ref1
ER  -