Emergency Disaster Relief Information and Resources Related to Wildfires
Date postedJanuary 9, 2025
We know that many people in the ECE community located in the LA County area are facing an incredibly challenging and frightening time right now as wildfire threatens your communities.
EveryChild California is here to offer support in navigating this difficult time. We are actively compiling resources to support you, your staff, your programs, and the families you serve. As we receive additional information from our partners and state agencies, we will post them here for your convenience.
LAFD Alerts: https://lafd.org/alerts
Current Evacuation Orders: https://lafd.org/
Current Fire Activity Map: https://www.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=df8bcc10430f48878b01c96e907a1fc3
LA Disaster Support Masterlist: https://www.theconsciouscitizens.org/los-angeles-disaster-support-masterlist/
Comprehensive List of California Disaster Response Funds: https://www.philanthropyca.org/2025-california-disaster-response?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=2025-01-14&utm_campaign=Response+Funds+for+LA+Wildfire-Impacted+Childcare+Programs
Resources from CDE and CDSS
*The information below was published to CDE's EED ListServ on January 8, 2025.
CDE Programs:
The California Education Code (EC) Section 8249 states that agencies that are unable to operate due incomplete repairs and renovations that have been authorized by the CDE, or due to circumstances beyond their control, including, but not limited to, earthquakes, fires, or floods, will not be financially penalized for approved day(s) of closure.
Should your agency be required to close due to the impacts from a wildfire, including but not limited to mandatory evacuation orders or evacuation warnings, poor air quality, power outages, and/or staffing shortages due to staff being impacted by the fire and unable to safely travel to/from work or having been displaced by the fire, your agency can be reimbursed for days of closure related to the emergency situation.
Please contact your assigned EED, Program Quality Implementation (PQI) Office Regional Consultant as soon as possible if your agency was impacted by the weather or if you have any questions regarding this announcement. The Regional Consultant directory can be accessed on the CDE Consultant Regional Assignments web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp. If you are unable to access the web page, please call the EED main phone line at 916-322-6233.
Source: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb2110.asp
Closure Request Form: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/documents/noncovid19req2122.pdf
The California Education Code (EC) Section 8249 states that agencies that are unable to operate due incomplete repairs and renovations that have been authorized by the CDE, or due to circumstances beyond their control, including, but not limited to, earthquakes, fires, or floods, will not be financially penalized for approved day(s) of closure.
Should your agency be required to close due to the impacts from a wildfire, including but not limited to mandatory evacuation orders or evacuation warnings, poor air quality, power outages, and/or staffing shortages due to staff being impacted by the fire and unable to safely travel to/from work or having been displaced by the fire, your agency can be reimbursed for days of closure related to the emergency situation.
Please contact your assigned EED, Program Quality Implementation (PQI) Office Regional Consultant as soon as possible if your agency was impacted by the weather or if you have any questions regarding this announcement. The Regional Consultant directory can be accessed on the CDE Consultant Regional Assignments web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp. If you are unable to access the web page, please call the EED main phone line at 916-322-6233.
Source: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb2110.asp
Closure Request Form: https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/documents/noncovid19req2122.pdf
CDSS Programs:
The Child Care and Development Division (CCDD) contractors that close any of their sites and/or classrooms due to circumstances beyond the operating agency’s control, as identified in WIC 10286.5, must submit an Emergency Closure Request Form in order to receive credit for any reduced days of operation associated and child days of attendance associated with the emergency closure. The Emergency Closure Request Form must be submitted to the contractors assigned the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), CCDD, Program Quality Improvement (PQI) Consultant. If the request is approved, the contractor will receive an approval from their assigned PQI consultant indicating the operation credit for the emergency closure day(s) and child days of attendance. The contractor must keep the approved form for auditing purposes and report the associated credits on their Child Development and Nutrition Fiscal Services fiscal and attendance report(s).
The Child Care and Development Division (CCDD) contractors that close any of their sites and/or classrooms due to circumstances beyond the operating agency’s control, as identified in WIC 10286.5, must submit an Emergency Closure Request Form in order to receive credit for any reduced days of operation associated and child days of attendance associated with the emergency closure. The Emergency Closure Request Form must be submitted to the contractors assigned the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), CCDD, Program Quality Improvement (PQI) Consultant. If the request is approved, the contractor will receive an approval from their assigned PQI consultant indicating the operation credit for the emergency closure day(s) and child days of attendance. The contractor must keep the approved form for auditing purposes and report the associated credits on their Child Development and Nutrition Fiscal Services fiscal and attendance report(s).
Incidents at Licensed Facilities
If you operate a licensed facility, please report any incidents on the premises to the California Department of Social Services pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, sections 101212(d) and 102416.2(c). All licensed facilities should follow their disaster plans on file pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.95(f).
If you operate a licensed facility, please report any incidents on the premises to the California Department of Social Services pursuant to the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, sections 101212(d) and 102416.2(c). All licensed facilities should follow their disaster plans on file pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 1596.95(f).
CCLD Disaster Resources: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing/public-information-and-resources/disaster-resources
For information regarding Homeless Children and Youth, please refer to the CDE Management Bulletin (MB) 18-04 which is located at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/mb1804.asp. MB 18-04 communicates provisions for contractors to better support and serve families who are experiencing homelessness.
Los Angeles Shelter and Evacuation Services Information: https://lacounty.gov/emergency/
California Resource and Referral (R&R) programs provide training and technical assistance, as well as resources for Early Learning and Care providers. Please contact your local R&R for information on available resources. A list of R&Rs is found on the CDE web site at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/re/rragencylist.asp.
Available Assistance for Californian's: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/13/DisasterAssistanceGuideforCaliforniansFinal.pdf
For resources related to wildfires, including what to do before, during and after a wildfire, please refer to the CDE’s Wildfires web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ep/wildfires.asp.
For information on the CDE Resources for Disaster and Emergency Resources, please refer to the CDE Resources for Natural Disaster and Severe Weather web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ep/schoolemergencyres.asp.
For information on disaster assistance and resources in California, please refer to the CDE Disaster Resources web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/dr/.
For information on emergency resources from federal, state, and local agencies, please refer to the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) website at www.caloes.ca.gov.
Information on the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Community Care Licensing Regional Offices can be found at the CDSS website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing.
For information on Helping Children Cope After a Disaster, visit the Office of Head Start Early Childhood and Learning Center website at https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/helping-your-child-cope-after-disaster.
The California MAP to inclusion and Belonging: Coping with Trauma Resources website is at https://cainclusion.org/camap/resources-and-links/coping-with-trauma-a-collection-of-resources/.
For resources to help children, families, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, and finding ways to cope together, visit the National Child Trauma Stress Network website is at https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/disasters/wildfire-resources.
For information on the CDE Resources for Disaster and Emergency Resources, please refer to the CDE Resources for Natural Disaster and Severe Weather web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ep/schoolemergencyres.asp.
For information on disaster assistance and resources in California, please refer to the CDE Disaster Resources web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/dr/.
For information on emergency resources from federal, state, and local agencies, please refer to the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) website at www.caloes.ca.gov.
Information on the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Community Care Licensing Regional Offices can be found at the CDSS website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing.
For information on Helping Children Cope After a Disaster, visit the Office of Head Start Early Childhood and Learning Center website at https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/helping-your-child-cope-after-disaster.
The California MAP to inclusion and Belonging: Coping with Trauma Resources website is at https://cainclusion.org/camap/resources-and-links/coping-with-trauma-a-collection-of-resources/.
For resources to help children, families, and communities navigate what they are seeing and hearing, and finding ways to cope together, visit the National Child Trauma Stress Network website is at https://www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/disasters/wildfire-resources.
BabytoBaby is helping distribute diapers, car seats and other supplies to impacted families, please visit their site for more info and to share resources as you have them. https://baby2baby.org/
The EO is extending this requirement:
Any applicable deadline to complete a Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), as specified in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR), Section 17702, is extended until June 30, 2025, for California State Preschool Program contractors impacted by the emergency in LA and Ventura Counties.
The EO is suspending these requirements:
The requirement imposed by Education Code (EC) section 8258 limiting administrative costs for state-funded preschool programs to fifteen percent of net reimbursable costs is suspended for contracting agencies directly impacted by this emergency in LA and Ventura Counties. This means that the California Department of Education (CDE) may reimburse approvable administrative costs that exceed the 15 percent limitations for CSPP contractors directly impacted by the wildfires in LA and Ventura Counties. All additional administrative costs beyond the 15 percent limit must be incurred prior to June 30, 2025, to be considered reimbursable.
Enrolling Families Experiencing Homelessness
The requirement to submit required documentation for families in LA and Ventura Counties experiencing homelessness and enrolling in a CSPP, as specified in 5 CCR Section 17771(e), is suspended for 60 days. This means that families impacted by the fires and enrolling in CSPP under this eligibility category through January 1, 2026, will have a total of 90 days from the date the application for services is signed to provide all applicable documentation.
As a reminder, when the basis of eligibility is family experiencing homelessness, the contractor shall permit the enrollment of children to begin immediately upon the parent signing the application for services. The parent shall provide all required documentation, including immunization records, within 90 days (30 days allowed from 5 CCR Section 17771 and additional 60 days allowed from the EO) from the date the application for services is signed.
Program Self Evaluation
The requirement to conduct the PSE, as specified in 5 CCR Section 17709, is suspended for CSPP contractors impacted by the fires in LA and Ventura counties through June 30, 2025. As a reminder, the summary of findings of the PSE is typically due to the CDE by June 1; therefore, because this requirement is suspended through June 30, 2025, contractors impacted by the fires will not be required to submit this requirement for the 2024-25 program year.
Parent Survey
The requirement to conduct the parent survey, as specified in 5 CCR Section 17710, is suspended for CSPP contractors impacted by the fires in LA and Ventura counties through June 30, 2025. The results of the parent survey are typically collected through the PSE process; therefore, contractors impacted by the fires in LA and Ventura counties are not required to complete the parent survey requirements for the 2024-25 program year.
Desired Results Developmental Profile
Any applicable due dates to complete the DRDP for all enrolled children are extended until June 30, 2025, for CSPP contractors that are impacted by the emergency in LA and Ventura counties. This does not waive the requirement to complete the DRDP, it just extends the timeline in which the assessment needs to be completed. If the program year ends before June 30, 2025, then the contractor must complete all DRDPs before the end of the program year.
Local Educational Agencies (LEA) providing special education services to children 0 through 5 years of age with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) may indicate their requirement to complete the DRDP sooner than June 30, 2025 deadline, and CSPP Contractors shall collaborate with the special education program staff, where possible, to support the completion of the DRDP to meet their requirement.
Resources
For help and information for people affected by the wildfires, information on disaster assistance and temporary housing, disaster recovery, social programs, local and federal resources, emergency alerts and real time updates, please refer to the 2025 Los Angeles Fires help and information web page at https://www.ca.gov/lafires/.
If you have programmatic questions, please contact your assigned Early Education Division (EED), Program Quality Implementation (PQI) office regional consultant. The EED, PQI regional consultant directory web page can be accessed at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp.
If you have fiscal questions about the information in this email, please contact your assigned CDE Early Education Nutrition and Fiscal Services fiscal analyst. The fiscal analyst directory can be accessed at the following link: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/cd/faad.asp.
Any applicable deadline to complete a Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), as specified in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5 (5 CCR), Section 17702, is extended until June 30, 2025, for California State Preschool Program contractors impacted by the emergency in LA and Ventura Counties.
The EO is suspending these requirements:
- The requirement limiting administrative costs for CSPP to 15 percent has been suspended for costs incurred prior to June 30, 2025, for CSPP contractors directly impacted by the fires.
- The requirement for families in LA and Ventura counties experiencing homelessness to provide applicable documentation within 30 days, as specified in 5 CCR Section 17771(e), is suspended for an additional 60 days.
- The requirement to complete the annual Program Self-Evaluation (PSE) for impacted CSPP contractors in LA and Ventura counties is suspended for the 2024-25 program year.
- The requirement to complete the Parent Survey for CSPP contractors impacted by the fires in LA and Ventura counties is suspended for the 2024-25 program year.
The requirement imposed by Education Code (EC) section 8258 limiting administrative costs for state-funded preschool programs to fifteen percent of net reimbursable costs is suspended for contracting agencies directly impacted by this emergency in LA and Ventura Counties. This means that the California Department of Education (CDE) may reimburse approvable administrative costs that exceed the 15 percent limitations for CSPP contractors directly impacted by the wildfires in LA and Ventura Counties. All additional administrative costs beyond the 15 percent limit must be incurred prior to June 30, 2025, to be considered reimbursable.
Enrolling Families Experiencing Homelessness
The requirement to submit required documentation for families in LA and Ventura Counties experiencing homelessness and enrolling in a CSPP, as specified in 5 CCR Section 17771(e), is suspended for 60 days. This means that families impacted by the fires and enrolling in CSPP under this eligibility category through January 1, 2026, will have a total of 90 days from the date the application for services is signed to provide all applicable documentation.
As a reminder, when the basis of eligibility is family experiencing homelessness, the contractor shall permit the enrollment of children to begin immediately upon the parent signing the application for services. The parent shall provide all required documentation, including immunization records, within 90 days (30 days allowed from 5 CCR Section 17771 and additional 60 days allowed from the EO) from the date the application for services is signed.
Program Self Evaluation
The requirement to conduct the PSE, as specified in 5 CCR Section 17709, is suspended for CSPP contractors impacted by the fires in LA and Ventura counties through June 30, 2025. As a reminder, the summary of findings of the PSE is typically due to the CDE by June 1; therefore, because this requirement is suspended through June 30, 2025, contractors impacted by the fires will not be required to submit this requirement for the 2024-25 program year.
Parent Survey
The requirement to conduct the parent survey, as specified in 5 CCR Section 17710, is suspended for CSPP contractors impacted by the fires in LA and Ventura counties through June 30, 2025. The results of the parent survey are typically collected through the PSE process; therefore, contractors impacted by the fires in LA and Ventura counties are not required to complete the parent survey requirements for the 2024-25 program year.
Desired Results Developmental Profile
Any applicable due dates to complete the DRDP for all enrolled children are extended until June 30, 2025, for CSPP contractors that are impacted by the emergency in LA and Ventura counties. This does not waive the requirement to complete the DRDP, it just extends the timeline in which the assessment needs to be completed. If the program year ends before June 30, 2025, then the contractor must complete all DRDPs before the end of the program year.
Local Educational Agencies (LEA) providing special education services to children 0 through 5 years of age with Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) or Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) may indicate their requirement to complete the DRDP sooner than June 30, 2025 deadline, and CSPP Contractors shall collaborate with the special education program staff, where possible, to support the completion of the DRDP to meet their requirement.
Resources
For help and information for people affected by the wildfires, information on disaster assistance and temporary housing, disaster recovery, social programs, local and federal resources, emergency alerts and real time updates, please refer to the 2025 Los Angeles Fires help and information web page at https://www.ca.gov/lafires/.
If you have programmatic questions, please contact your assigned Early Education Division (EED), Program Quality Implementation (PQI) office regional consultant. The EED, PQI regional consultant directory web page can be accessed at https://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/cd/ci/assignments.asp.
If you have fiscal questions about the information in this email, please contact your assigned CDE Early Education Nutrition and Fiscal Services fiscal analyst. The fiscal analyst directory can be accessed at the following link: https://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/cd/faad.asp.
PIN 25-02-CCLD: ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WAIVERS AND RESPONSE TO THE 2025 WILDFIRES IN LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES
Primary Audience:
CERTIFIED ADMINISTRATORS (PROSPECTIVE AND CURRENT)
ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TRAINING VENDORS
Summary:
PIN 25-02-CCLD provides notification of the Governor’s Proclamation of a State of Emergency in response to the wildfires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties and announces blanket waivers for administrators who are eligible to renew their administrator certification for Adult Residential Facilities (ARF), Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Special Health Care Needs (ARFPSHN), Group Homes (GH), Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCFE), and Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTP). In addition, PIN 25-02-CCLD provides guidance on extension requests to prospective administrators who are applying for administrator certification.
An electronic copy of PIN 25-02-CCLD: ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION PROGRAM WAIVERS AND RESPONSE TO THE 2025 WILDFIRES IN LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES is available for viewing/downloading by clicking on the following link:
Previous PINs are available at the CCLD website.
Resources from our partners and members:
- Child Care Resource Center: The latest fire information and access resources in your area
- Child Care Resource Center: How to Help Children Manage Stress Caused by California Wildfires
- CTC Support and FAQ: Learn More Here
- Children Now Support Page: Visit Here
- CDE Updated Guidance 1/28/25: Read Here
EveryChild California is here for you, and we will continue to stand by you as you navigate these challenges.