It is critical for early education and child care agencies, schools, colleges, and universities to all prepare pandemic flu plans as an essential adjunct to any emergency preparedness or evacuation plans you may already have in place. In addition to the possibility that educational institutions may have to be closed for some period during a pandemic, they are likely to be short-staffed, and may act as a resource for space and workers needed to respond to shortages in critical care capacity.

Higher Education

Resources

Federal guidance on planning for schools, including colleges and universities:
www.pandemicflu.gov/professional/school/index.html

Additional Resources and Volunteer Information

Contacts

Kathy Atkinson, Massachusetts Department of Public Health,
Kathy.Atkinson@state.ma.us

K-12 Schools

Resources

The Massachusetts Department of Education's Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and All Hazard Planning website (currently under construction) includes frequently asked questions as well as links to state, national and international information and resources related to pandemic flu preparedness and all hazards planning:
www.doe.mass.edu/pandemic

Additional Resources and Volunteer Information

Contacts

John Bynoe, Massachusetts Department of Education,
mailto:H4s@doe.mass.edu

Early Education and Care

Resources:

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) website contains technical assistance on emergency planning and emergency management planning. In the future, there will be information for EEC licensed providers on pandemic flu planning: Department of Early Education & Care

Additional Resources and Volunteer Information

Contacts

Dave McGrath, Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, David.McGrath@Massmail.state.ma.us

This information is provided by the Department of Public Health.