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The following includes a summary of State policy changes on immunization
requirements for children displaced by Hurricane Katrina enrolling in
child care programs. Included is information from a sample of States
that have made policy changes in response to the hurricane, including
Florida that has waived documentation requirements for its prekindergarten
program. Also included is information about the Centers for Disease
Control’s recommendations on immunizations for children displaced by
the hurricane and the Federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act
which requires States to remove barriers for homeless children to get
a free public education. States are using this law to make changes in
immunization requirements.
States
California
The California Department of Health Services has issued a memorandum
stating that children who were in licensed child care or
school in Alabama, Louisiana, or Mississippi before being
displaced to California may be initially presumed to be up
to date for vaccinations required in California. Once
students are enrolled, California Health and Safety Code,
Section 120340 and California Code of Regulations,
Sections 6045 and 6070 (d) allow child care facilities and
schools to admit students who are transferring from a school
in another State and give families a period of up to 30
school days (i.e., approximately six school weeks) to
produce their children’s immunization records. Additional
information is available on the Web
at http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/dcdc/izgroup/pdf/katrinaevacueeizreqsletter.pdf.
Florida
The Florida Office of Early Learning Services (formerly the
Florida Partnership for School Readiness) is waiving the customary
documentation for enrolling four-year-olds in the Voluntary
Prekindergarten Program. Additional information is available
from the Office of Early Learning Services at 850-488-3026 or
on the Web at http://www.upkflorida.org/index.cfm.
Kansas
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a memo stating
that displaced children and youth entering regulated child care
facilities will not be required to provide documentation of
current immunizations and health assessment for up to 60 days. For
additional information, contact the Division of Health,
Bureau of Child Care and Health Facilities – Child Care Unit,
Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 785-296-1270 or
on the Web at http://www.kdhe.state.ks.us/bcchf/index.html.
Maryland
The Maryland State Department of Education issued a memo that
directed State-regulated child care programs to enroll displaced
children immediately and process them through standard enrollment
procedures without authenticating immunization, birth certificates,
or other documents which are typically required. For additional
information, contact Paula Johnson, Program Manager, Licensing Branch,
Office of Child Care, Maryland State Department of Education, at
410-767-7128 or on the Web
at http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/child_care/.
Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Office of Early Learning and Care has issued
a memorandum stating that displaced families will be allowed up
to six months from the time of their child’s admission into the
licensed child care program to provide documentation of their
child’s immunization and physical examination. Additional information
is available on the Web at http://www.eec.state.ma.us/.
In addition, the Office of Early Learning and Care has a variance from
the licensing requirements on children’s medical records for homeless
families. Licensees shall allow homeless families up to six months from
the date of their child’s admission into a child care program to obtain
the child’s medical records. This policy has been in effect since 2004. Additional
information is available on the Web
at http://www.eec.state.ma.us/docs/HomelesChildrenRecordVariance.pdf.
Mississippi
The Mississippi Department of Health is offering 60-day provisional
enrollment status to students transferring from areas affected
by Hurricane Katrina. This provisional status means that it is not
necessary for students or their families to present student
immunization records prior to admission to any school or licensed
child care facility in order to attend classes for the next 60
days. Additional information is available on the Web
at http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/23,2992,247.html.
Nebraska
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services Regulation
and Licensure has announced that children displaced by Hurricane
Katrina and entering child care in Nebraska do not need to show
proof of immunizations before entering care. Additional information
is available on the Web
at http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/new/0905nr/immunization2.htm.
New Mexico
The New Mexico Department of Health is giving students enrolling
in schools and child care facilities who will be staying with
family members, friends, or others in New Mexico a 30-day provisional
enrollment without showing proof of immunizations. Additional
information is available on the Web
at http://www.health.state.nm.us/katrina/documents/.
New York
The New York Office of Children and Families is allowing children displaced by
Hurricane Katrina to be initially enrolled in a child care program for up
to 30 days without proof of immunization in accordance with Public Health
Law, section 2164(7). Additional information is available on the Web
at http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main/.
Ohio
The Ohio Department of Job and Families Services is allowing a 90-day waiver
on the requirements for verification of immunizations for children from
families displaced by Hurricane Katrina enrolling in child care centers
and family child care homes. Additional information is available on the
Web at http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/lpc/MTL/CCMPL14.pdf.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma State Departments of Health and Education announced that standard
immunization requirements for attending school or child care facilities in
Oklahoma are being temporarily waived for children displaced by Hurricane
Katrina. Students who will be staying with family members or friends in
Oklahoma, or whose families have sought temporary housing in the State,
will be given a 120-day provisional enrollment. Additional information is
available on the Web
at http://www.health.state.ok.us/program/hpromo/news/displaced.html.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced the relaxation of immunization
requirements for children displaced by the effects of Hurricane Katrina
in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi who are attending school or
child care group settings (day care) in Pennsylvania. An eight-month
provisional enrollment will be given to school students staying with
family members, friends, or others in Pennsylvania. Additional information
is available on the Web
at http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?A=171&Q=242511.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Department of Health is allowing enrollment of students
transferring from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama to Rhode Island
schools and child care facilities. Temporary Immunization Exemption
Certificates may be used to document the status of these children as
evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. Additional information is available on
the Web at http://www.health.state.ri.us/family/immunization/vac_update091405.php.
Tennessee
The governor of Tennessee issued an Executive Order that waives the requirements
on immunizations, children’s health records, and proof of physical exam for
children from displaced families enrolling in children care centers,
school-age care programs, family child care homes, and group child care
homes. The Executive Order is available on the Web
at http://www.tennessee.gov/governor/AdminCMSServlet?action=viewFile&id=612.
In addition, the Executive Order states that child care programs set up
in emergency shelters are exempt from licensure.
Texas
The Texas Department of State Health Services announced that normal immunization
requirements for attending school or child-care facilities in Texas are being
temporarily waived for children displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Students who
will be staying with family members, friends, or others in Texas will be
given a 30-day provisional enrollment. The department may extend the provisional
enrollment period depending on hurricane recovery progress in Louisiana,
Alabama, and Mississippi. Additional information is available on the Web
at http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/About/Releases_and_Newsletter
/2005/2005-08-31_Katrina_Immunizations.asp.
In addition, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services announced
on its Web site that the DFPS Child Care Licensing (CCL) program is
expediting efforts to set up child care operations near the many shelters
housing hurricane evacuees. No other details were given. Additional information
is available on the Web
at http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/about/
Releases_and_Newsletter/2005/2005-09-07_Katrina_update.asp.
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Federal Recommendations and Law
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), has issued recommendations regarding
immunizations for children displaced by Hurricane Katrina. It
is recommended to States that if immunization records are not
available for enrollment in school or child care, children
aged 10 years and younger should be treated as if they were
up-to-date with recommended immunizations and given any doses
that are recommended for their current age. Additional information
is available on the CDC Web
at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/pdf/vaccrecdisplaced.pdf.
- The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Subtitle VII-B,
is the Federal law that entitles children who are homeless to
a free, appropriate public education. It requires schools
to remove barriers to the enrollment, attendance, and success
in school. In response to Hurricane Katrina, States are using
this act to allow displaced families more time to provide
proof of immunizations for their children enrolling in child
care programs and schools. The act, “Education for Homeless
Children and Youth Program - Title VII-B of the McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind
Act of 2001 Non-Regulatory Guidance, July 2004,” is on the
Web at http://www.ed.gov/programs/homeless/guidance.pdf. Additional
information on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is
available from the National Coalition for the Homeless on the
Web at http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/McKinney.pdf.
Michigan is one of the States using the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Act as it pertains to immunization requirements. Additional information is
available on the Web
at http://www.mcir.org/forms_manuals/. In addition,
the Michigan Childhood Immunization Registry (MCIR), which tracks immunizations
provided by health care providers, has information on its Web site for Hurricane
Katrina student evacuees at http://www.mcir.org/evacuee.htm. Additional information
about MCIR is available at http://www.mcir.org/index.html.
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The National Child Care Information Center does not endorse any organization, publication, or resource.
October 2005
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