ICP Blog
Insights for the early childhood preparedness community.
Practical guidance and resources from our team of emergency preparedness, public health, and safety specialists.
Police Say Most of 100+ Children at Daycare Were Found Tied Up
When Indonesian police raided a Yogyakarta daycare in April 2026, they found most of the 100+ enrolled children with their hands and feet bound. Here is what every early childhood program should take from this case.
Hantavirus and Your Program: What Early Childhood Professionals Need to Know
A cluster of hantavirus cases has put the virus back in the news. Here is what early childhood programs need to know about the risk, how it spreads, and simple prevention steps.
Eight Children Alone During a Fire: A Close Call That Demands Our Attention
On the afternoon of March 12, police and firefighters responded to a structure fire at Arbor Square Apartments in North Charleston, South Carolina. When emergency responders entered the unit, they discovered eight children inside with no adult present. The apa
Building a Culture of Safety: Reflections from the Head Start California Health Institute
Reflections from a packed Culture of Safety session at the Head Start California Health Institute in San Jose — and what it says about how early childhood professionals are embracing preparedness.
Lessons from the Utah Valley University Tragedy: Why Reliable Communication is Non-Negotiable in Early Childhood Preparedness
After the shooting at Utah Valley University, a look at why reliable communication tools are non-negotiable for early childhood programs during fast-moving emergencies.
Unlocking Knowledge for Safer Environments: Free Webinars from the Institute for Childhood Preparedness
At the Institute for Childhood Preparedness, we are dedicated to fostering safe and healthy environments for children. To support this mission, we recently held four impactful live webinars, made possible through our partnerships with the Environmental Protect
Ensure Compliance with SB 553: Customized Workplace Violence Prevention Training by the Institute for Childhood Preparedness
In light of California's newly enacted SB 553, which mandates tailored workplace violence prevention training for businesses, the Institute for Childhood Preparedness is here to help you stay compliant and ensure the safety of your employees.
Empower Yourself with Knowledge: FREE Environmental Health Webinars
Addressing environmental health issues is paramount to providing excellent care to the young minds that we serve as head start teachers. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is pleased to announce a collaboration with the New Jersey Head Start Association,
Stay Safe While Viewing the Total Solar Eclipse, Monday April 8th, 2024
Excitement fills the air as anticipation builds for the upcoming total solar eclipse. This awe-inspiring celestial event offers a rare opportunity to witness the dance of the sun, moon, and Earth in perfect alignment. However, as you prepare to witness this br
In Memory of Dan Marburger Iowa High School Principal
The principal of Perry High School, Dan Marburger, has passed away after protecting students during an active shooting at the school on January 4th of this year. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness would like to honor Mr. Marburger's courage and his commi
Protecting Children in the Era of Technological Advances
States are taking action to regulate social media and protect children in the absence of federal legislation. The focus is on age-appropriate design, a framework originating in the UK, which requires online platforms to prioritize child safety in their designs
Institute for Childhood Preparedness to Speak at Head Start California's Health Institute
For nearly two decades, Head Start California's Health Institute has been a vital platform for health and nutrition professionals in the field of early childhood education. This year, the annual Health Institute promises to be a significant event, featuring ex
Alaskan Early Childhood Providers - Safety Saturday Event is Coming to Anchorage September 9th!
Enhancing Community Safety: Join Us September 9th in Anchorage for Safety Saturday - Active Shooter Preparedness and Fire Safety Training
Institute for Childhood Preparedness Establishes Workgroup for Staff Responsible for Facilities
We are thrilled to announce the establishment of a dedicated workgroup focused on supporting and empowering the remarkable individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure safe, well-maintained early childhood facilities that promote learning and gr
Partnering for Preparedness - Author Talk with Andrew Roszak at Mary Riley Styles Library
[Falls Church, Virginia] – As National Preparedness Month approaches, an exceptional opportunity awaits individuals and business leaders seeking to bolster their readiness for emergencies and disasters. Two Falls Church based organizations, the Mary Riley Styl
Pennsylvania - Early Childhood Resource Center 2 Hosts All-day Safety Summit - Sept 30, 2023
Imagine a day packed with invaluable insights, expert guidance, and practical knowledge—all focused on ensuring the safety and well-being of the children under your care. That's precisely what the upcoming Safety Summit promises, and you're invited to be a par
Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Hot Car Deaths: An Open Letter to the Secretary of Transportation
With summer already here and the threat of hot car incidents looming, The Institute of Childhood Preparedness and other concerned organizations are joining forces to urge the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) to take immediate action. The group sent
Institute Providing Free Active Shooter Training for Early Childhood Professionals in Las Vegas
The Institute for Childhood Preparedness, through a partnership with The Children's Cabinet, is providing FREE in-person active shooter preparedness training for early childhood professionals.
Institute for Childhood Preparedness Chosen to Support New York State Head Start Association
The Institute for Childhood Preparedness has been selected by the New York State Head Start Association to run their annual conference, and we couldn't be more honored. As part of this contract, the Institute for Childhood Preparedness will provide planning, l
Winter Preparation and Safety Tips for Parents and Children
Winter is such a wonderful and special time of the year! It’s a season centered around joy and laughter, filled with families coming together to celebrate the holidays, building snowmen, going sledding, and staying warm indoors. But with freezing temperatures,
Region 2 Head Start Conference Welcomes over 850 Early Childhood Professionals to Puerto Rico
The Region 2 Head Start Association conducted it's annual conference from November 13 - 17, 2022 in Puerto Rico. The conference was a resounding success and it was so great to welcome everyone back to an in-person conference - the first held by Region 2 since
Keep an Eye Out for Blue Trick-or-Treat Buckets on Halloween Night
For many children, Halloween is filled with laughter while walking around the neighborhood. But, for children with Autism, Halloween can be extremely stressful, and the simple act of saying “trick-or-treat” isn’t possible for children that are nonverbal.
Join Us in Puerto Rico for the Region II Head Start Association Conference in November!
We are beyond excited to be supporting the Region II Head Start Association's Annual Conference - which will be returning to Puerto Rico this November!
State of Louisiana Welcomes 2,100 Early Childhood Providers to New Orleans
What an amazing time we had at the Louisiana Department of Education’s Early Childhood Conference in New Orleans at the end of July 2022. We were thrilled to be joined by over 2,100 early childhood professionals from across the State of Louisiana for this wond
The results are in! Download the 2021/22 Childcare Benchmark Report.
We are pleased to have contributed to the Childcare Benchmark Report. Download the report and find out in the 2021-2022 North American Childcare Sector Benchmark Report, brought to you by HiMama! This year marks our 6th and biggest installment yet. With more i
Institute Supports Reauthorization of Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program
Re: Child Care Access Means Parents in School Reauthorization Act
School Shootings Surpass 2020 Figures As Students Return to Classrooms
Each September we celebrate National Preparedness Month. The 2021 theme is PREPARE TO PROTECT, which is certainly a goal we here at the Institute can get behind.
The Latest School Shooting Incident: Sixth Grade Student Subdued by Teacher After Shooting 3.
Gun violence from mass shootings continues to climb. There have been 213 events with at least 4 people shot during the first four months of 2021. We have already seen 7 school shootings this year despite still having a very large number of schools not even bei
Protecting Children in Virtual Learning Environments: Warning Signs of Abuse for Teachers
As a teacher, it’s not necessarily difficult to pick up on obvious signs of abuse when you’re in the classroom. You may have even gone through training to look out for the warning signs. If a student has obvious physical symptoms, complains about being hungry,
Press Release: The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is Now an IACET Accredited Training Provider
The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is proud to announce that the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has awarded the Institute for Childhood Preparedness the prestigious Authorized Provider accreditation. With IACET ac
The Impact Of Civil Unrest On Early Childhood Programs and Schools
2020 was a year of unprecedented turmoil and civil unrest. There were at least 32 major riots and countless other smaller protests throughout the country during the last seven months of 2020. These incidents left 25 dead, thousands injured, hundreds of busines
Mass Shooting Survivor Lacey Newman Offers Life-Saving Advice and Lessons Learned
On October 1, 2017, Lacey Newman’s life changed forever. While attending the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, a gunman opened fire. While many, including Lacey, began to run, a lot of attendees thought the gunfire was fireworks, and they f
A Wave of Mass Shootings During 4th of July Weekend Causes Safety Concerns for Child Care Programs
Gun violence continues to rise at a historical rate as the United States tries to recover and develop reopening procedures from the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. This year's July 4th weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 4, 5, and 6), our nation experie
Using Social Stories to Introduce Concepts and Emergency Preparedness Drills to Children
The Institute for Childhood Preparedness and Autism Little Learners have teamed up to collaborate on a series of social stories for teachers, child care professionals, parents, and children! The first set of social stories focuses on emergency preparedness dri
How Denise Fernandez-Pallozzi Transported 41 Bags of Luggage to Puerto Rico Post-Earthquakes
A series of devastating earthquakes began impacting Puerto Rico in December 2019. These earthquakes continued for over a month. The Institute for Childhood Preparedness works closely with the Region II Head Start Association and we are proud to provide support
Press Release: The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is Launching New Online Training Courses
Press release: ICP launches new online training courses for early childhood professionals, starting with a 30-minute active shooter preparedness introduction.
A Month of Uncertainty - Puerto Rico Continues to Be Impacted by Daily Earthquakes
On December 28, 2019 Puerto Rico began to experience a series of earthquakes. These quakes have persisted since, with the largest two occurring on January 6, 2020 (5.9 magnitude) and on January 7th (6.4 magnitude). These quakes are the most damaging to strike
London Bridge Terror Attack: Using a Fire Extinguisher to Take Down the Armed Assailant
On November 29, 2019, a terrorist began stabbing innocent bystanders at Fishmonger’s Hall, a historic venue located at the north end of the London Bridge. The attacker managed to kill two Cambridge University graduates and seriously wound three others before a
Lessons Learned: Active Shooter Incident at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California
On November 14, 2019, Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, California was the site of another deadly school mass shooting. On his 16th birthday, the active shooter shot 5 of his classmates, killing 2 of them. The shooter later died from a self-inflicted gunsho
Disaster Recovery Challenges Faced by Early Childhood Professionals in the U.S. Virgin Islands
In September 2017, two category 5 hurricanes struck the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) within two weeks. The islands of St. Thomas and St. John were hit by both Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, while St. Croix was hit by Hurricane Maria. These hurricanes destro
Recap of New Jersey Safety For All: A Blueprint for Schools and Outside Agencies Working Together
On Tuesday, October 29, 2019, our Executive Director Andrew Roszak had the privilege of delivering the keynote address at the Safety For All: A Blueprint for Schools and Outside Agencies Working Together Conference in Monroe Township, New Jersey. The conferenc
Teaching Children Life-Saving Emergency Preparedness Skills Through the Red Cross Pillowcase Project
It’s not uncommon to hear about natural disasters occurring every week. According to FEMA, there have been 90 disaster declarations in 2019, and, as we’re writing this blog, Southern California is experiencing horrific wildfires. Many families are evacuating w
Active Shooter Preparedness and Fire Safety and Prevention Training with Academy Primary School
The Institute for Childhood Preparedness is excited to announce our new partnership with Academy Primary School in Rockville, Maryland. We're looking forward to hosting our first set of safety events on Saturday, November 9, 2019. The Active Shooter Preparedne
Press Release: The Institute for Childhood Preparedness Will Not Endorse Bulletproof Backpacks
Press release: The Institute for Childhood Preparedness will not endorse bulletproof backpacks — the focus should be on people, not products.
US Virgin Islands Environmental Health Staff Receive Training on Child Care / School Inspections
The National Environmental Health Association recently provided capacity building assistance and training to new members of the US Virgin Islands Department of Health - Division of Environmental Health. The goal was to equip health inspectors with the knowledg
Emergency Preparedness Plans and Perceptions Among a Sample of United States Childcare Providers
A new peer-reviewed article: Emergency Preparedness Plans and Perceptions Among a Sample of United States Childcare Providers (Leser, Looper-Coats, & Roszak, 2019) has been published in the Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness Journal. This publica
Institute for Childhood Preparedness & Kansas Head Start Association Offer Active Shooter Training
In April 2019, we teamed up with the Kansas Head Start Association to conduct active shooter trainings throughout the State of Kansas. The team provided training sessions in Pittsburg, Kansas City, Salina, Topeka, Wichita, and Dodge City – a journey that spann
Journal of Environmental Health Highlights Early Childhood Disaster Recovery Work in the Caribbean
This month’s Journal for Environmental Health – published by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) contains a very special column.
Afraid to Perform CPR on Women? You’re Not Alone. Institute For Childhood Preparedness.
Heart disease “is the leading killer of U.S. women and men alike.” Dr. Sarah Perman is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She noted, “CPR can be lifesaving, regardless of sex.”
Child Care Providers Preparedness Levels Discussed at APHA Annual Meeting
The Institute for Childhood Preparedness was on the road last week - and presented findings from a recent national study of child care preparedness on November 14, 2018, at the American Public Health Association’s annual conference in San Diego, CA. This confe
California Wildfires Claim More Lives, Now Deadliest in California History
On November 8, 2018, wildfires began wreaking havoc across northern and southern California. Camp Fire is in Butte County, and Woolsey Fire is in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. The two fires are responsible for 76 civilian deaths, over 1,200 individuals una
Florida Yoga Studio Shooting: Hero Takes Down Gunman with Vacuum Cleaner
We often hear about shooters opening fire on innocent people. But, we rarely hear about survivors fighting back. While very scary, if you are face-to-face with an active shooter, you must challenge them and fight with everything you have - to protect yourself
Dangers of Instant Soup: 1 in 5 Children Rushed to ER Each Year
It’s easy to forget that microwaveable soup, such as ramen, contains scalding hot water.
Safety Tips to Keep Your Family Safe on Shorter Days During the Fall Season
The leaves are beginning to change, and the temperatures are dipping. Fall is here, and winter is close behind. While we await the arrival of Thanksgiving turkey and snow, we know that our days will be getting shorter.
Communities Hit by Disasters Can’t Rebuild if Parents Can’t Get to Work.
Largely forgotten, and certainly far removed from the headlines, the daunting task of recovery continues throughout the areas ravaged by hurricanes in late 2017. As more than a year has now passed, childhood programs and facilities impacted by Hurricanes Irma,