Disaster and Emergency Preparedness and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Care Programs in Michigan: A Mixed-Methods Analysis.

Abstract

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. 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. 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. 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.