Safety, Training and Planning
Ensuring a Safe and Prepared Child Care Environment
Health and Safety Requirements
To become a qualified child care provider, you must complete essential health and safety trainings. These trainings are crucial for creating a safe environment for children. The Arizona Early Childhood Workforce Registry provides online courses sponsored by the Department of Economic Security (DES).
- Infectious Disease Control
- Prevention of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID)
- Administration of Medication
- Prevention of and Response to Food and Allergic Reactions
- Building and Physical Premises Safety
- Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma
- Child Abuse Reporting
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning
- Handling and Storage of Hazardous Materials and Disposal of Bio-Contaminants
- Transporting Children
CPR and First Aid Certification
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and First Aid are vital skills in emergencies like heart attacks or near drownings, where breathing or heartbeat may stop. These certifications are mandatory for all child care professionals in Arizona, ensuring they can provide critical care in urgent situations. To meet licensing, certification, or registration requirements, find a local CPR and/or first aid course through the American Heart Association or other local resources. This is not offered through the Arizona Registry.
Disaster Preparedness Plan
DES requires all child care providers to have a comprehensive disaster preparedness plan to ensure the safety and well-being of children during emergencies. Access resources and training to develop and refine your disaster preparedness strategy.
- Disaster Emergency Evacuation Preparation (DEEP)
- DES Disaster Preparedness Plan
- DES Emergency Disaster Plan
- Child Care Aware Crisis and Disaster
Disaster Emergency Evacuation Preparation (DEEP)
The Arizona Department of Health Services offers a variety of resources to help childcare providers plan for different disasters so they are ready in the event of an emergency.
- Online training
- Drill guidelines
- Drought and heat wave information
- Emergency evacuation plan
- Emergency numbers
DES Disaster Preparedness Plan
DES Division of Child Care has created an emergency and disaster preparedness plan for childcare to provide a detailed strategy for providers to ensure safety and continuity in child care during emergencies.
- Disaster response activation
- Management structure
- Disaster teams and functions
DES Emergency Disaster Plan
Family child care providers under the DES Division of Child Care are mandated to have an Emergency Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan. This plan ensures the safety of children by identifying a temporary relocation site and outlining resources for handling emergencies.
- All DES Certified Family Child Care providers must develop an emergency response plan.
- The plan should be visibly posted near a telephone and distributed to parents/guardians of all children in care.
Child Care Aware Crisis and Disaster
Child Care Aware® of America provides essential resources for emergency preparedness, helping caregivers and families respond effectively to crises and disasters impacting children.
- Emergency preparedness resources
- Webinars
- Emergency preparedness trainings
- Blog articles
Professional Development Planning
In most states, an early childhood educator works with children from birth to third grade or age eight. This teacher works with students in a public or private school setting, elementary schools of all kinds, and federal- and state-funded programs for early intervention with children from birth to kindergarten such as Head Start. This guide provides further information on what early childhood educators do, how to become an early childhood educator, and an early childhood educator's salary and outlook.
Learn about opportunities and supports in Arizona to advance your career in Early Childhood Education by using the free resources available through the Arizona Early Childhood Career and Professional Development Network and by joining the Registry.
The Administration for Children and Families offers a wide variety of tools and resources to further explore career options, education, professional development and training in Early Childhood Education on the Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center website. Learn more about the aspect of individual career development and explore how to grow your individual career, education and professional goals.
Professional Career Pathway Project (PCPP) is a scholarship program funded by the Arizona Department of Economic Security Division of Child Care through the federal Child Care Development Block Grant Fund. If you are currently working in the field of early childhood (in a DES Certified Family Child Care Home or DHS Licensed Child Care Center or Certified Child Care Group Home contracted with DES) PCPP will pay college tuition for up to 18 credits a year and provide a stipend for books.
Offered at community colleges throughout Arizona for Early Childhood Education classes only. For individuals employed as child caregivers in center-based programs, family child care providers or family group homes. To be eligible:
- Must work in a DES Certified Family Child Care Home or DHS Licensed Child Care Center or Certified Child Care Group
- Home that holds a contract with DES Contracts Unit.
- Must identify a Pathway (Goal) and pursue the Early Care and Education (ECE) coursework to accomplish your Pathway.
- Must complete all courses paid for by the PCPP with a grade of “C” or better to be eligible for continued scholarships.
The Early Childhood Check Sheet and Infant and Toddler Checksheet are tools intended to prepare learners with the foundational information needed to increase their knowledge and skills in both the early childhood and infant and toddler classrooms. Each included a suggested sequence of trainings by topic that build upon one another and will offer learners a base for continuous professional development. Participants should reflect on their own professional needs and take the training that applies to their educational pathway. Trainings are listed in order from foundational to additional enrichment learning content.
Have More Questions or Need Support?
We are here to support and guide you through every step of your child care provider journey.