Template · Plan

A One-Page Household Emergency Plan

Who picks the child up, who holds the documents, who gets called — written down before it is needed.

Visit Childcare.gov
Who it's for
Outside Caregiver, Whole Family
Child / youth age
All ages
Geography
National
Action type
Plan
Reading time
About 4 min
Last verified
August 2026

What this is

A template for the small set of information a household needs written down in case the primary caregiver is unavailable.

Why it matters

Families that have already been through one disruption know how fast the second one arrives. One page prevents a scramble.

What you should know

  • List two adults the school is authorized to release the child to, and confirm the school has them on file.
  • Note where identification, insurance, and school documents are kept.
  • Include medication names and the child's provider, if any.
  • Include the inside parent's contact process, if it applies.
  • Give a copy to one trusted adult outside the household.
  • Review it whenever a school, address, or phone number changes.

Talk about it

Tell your child, in age-appropriate terms, who would come for them and when.

Your next step

Fill out the page and give a copy to one person you trust.

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