Child Daycare Services Hit Hard by Palisades, Eaton Fires
Impact on Early Care and Education Facilities
The massive Palisades and Eaton fires have had a devastating impact on L.A. County’s early care and education facilities, with an estimated 503 facilities affected. Cristina Alvarado, executive director of Child Care Alliance Los Angeles, a partnership that provides services for thousands of families and child care providers across the county, stated that a number of centers and family childcare homes have been lost.
Assessment and Response Efforts
The LA County Early Care and Education Emergency Response Team was activated on January 8 to support the system during the recovery process. The team is focused on helping providers clean up their sites to become operational and able to serve children again. Vouchers are also being distributed to families who qualify, those either on government aid or who meet income eligibility standards.
Challenges Ahead
Using a triage model, Alvarado said, agencies throughout the region are coming together to first determine where families are, where child care staff are, and who needs immediate child care. Facilities such as YMCAs, L.A. Recreation and Parks, and other entities are also looking into housing childcare or helping with "pop-up" locations.
Impact on Families and Children
Many families who have lost their homes may be getting by for now without childcare, Alvarado said, but workers are scrambling to organize the effort to move forward. The primary impact is in the Altadena and Pasadena area, with a total of 289 centers and family childcare homes in the fire evacuation areas. The LA County Early Care and Education Response Team is still in the assessment process of how many facilities have been destroyed or damaged.
Concerns and Challenges
Alvarado’s concerns include how all of this is impacting young children who are experiencing changes in shelter, food, and clothing provisions. She also expressed concern about the expenses that childcare providers face, since those aren’t expected to be covered by insurance or FEMA payments.
Conclusion
The impact of the Palisades and Eaton fires on L.A. County’s early care and education facilities is significant, and the road to recovery will be long and challenging. However, with the support of the LA County Early Care and Education Emergency Response Team and other agencies, childcare providers and families will work together to rebuild and restore services.
FAQs
Q: How many early care and education facilities were affected by the fires?
A: An estimated 503 facilities were affected.
Q: What is being done to support childcare providers and families?
A: The LA County Early Care and Education Emergency Response Team is providing supplies and vouchers to help providers clean up their sites and serve children again. Facilities such as YMCAs and L.A. Recreation and Parks are also looking into housing childcare or helping with "pop-up" locations.
Q: What is the impact on families and children?
A: Many families who have lost their homes may be getting by for now without childcare, and young children are experiencing changes in shelter, food, and clothing provisions.
Q: What are the concerns and challenges ahead?
A: Childcare providers face expenses that aren’t expected to be covered by insurance or FEMA payments, and there is a need to raise additional funds to support the recovery efforts.
