The Institute for Childhood Preparedness offers child-centered emergency training tailored for early education professionals.
The Only Program Teaching Active Shooter Preparedness to Preschool Teachers
In a quiet preschool classroom in rural Oklahoma, a teacher kneels beside a toddler and gently explains why they’re playing the game ‘bees to a beehive’. To the child, it’s a playful moment. To the teacher, it’s part of critical safety training. This scene reflects a growing movement to equip early childhood professionals with the tools to respond effectively during emergencies—one that the Institute for Childhood Preparedness (ICP) is leading.
Founded by a father and son with backgrounds in public safety and emergency response, ICP is the only organization in the United States focused exclusively on early childhood emergency preparedness. Its mission: to give educators the confidence, training, and resources they need to protect our youngest learners.
Designed Specifically for Early Childhood Settings
Founded in 2018, the Institute for Childhood Preparedness is based on a simple but crucial idea: emergency training for preschool-aged children cannot be adapted from K–12 models. It must be created for their specific developmental needs.
Andrew Roszak, a public health expert, attorney, and former firefighter/paramedic, launched the organization after years of seeing early educators left out of the safety conversation. Working alongside his father, Ronald Roszak, a veteran of law enforcement, the pair saw that traditional emergency training did not serve children under age five or the professionals responsible for them.
“Preschool safety looks different when you’re caring for infants and toddlers,” Ronald Roszak says. “We designed every aspect of our program specifically for these environments.”
ICP’s approach avoids fear-based tactics. Instead, the team provides trauma-informed, age-appropriate strategies that align with child development principles and licensing standards.
A Family-Led, Responder-Informed Approach
ICP’s training team includes emergency responders, early childhood educators, and public health professionals. This combination ensures that the content is grounded in real-world experience and practical for classroom implementation.
The organization has worked in all 50 U.S. states, as well as U.S. territories and international locations. Clients include Head Start and Early Head Start programs, military Child and Youth Programs, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies, summer camps, religious organizations and many other child-serving organizations.
ICP does more than deliver lectures. The team provides live drills, custom tabletop exercises, and site-specific assessments. These offerings help child care centers build customized, effective plans for communication, evacuation, and reunification. Their goal is not only to comply with safety requirements but to create a culture of preparedness that empowers staff and reassures families.
National Partnerships and Recognized Resources
ICP’s trauma-sensitive philosophy is reflected in its collaboration with Sesame Workshop and other organizations committed to child welfare. These partnerships ensure that the materials and strategies used in training are developmentally appropriate and accessible to children.
Andrew Roszak is also the author of the Preparing for the Unexpectedseries, which includes three widely used books: Preschool Preparedness for an Active Shooter, Preschool Preparedness for an Emergency, and Preschool Preparedness for After a Disaster. These resources help early educators build confidence and action plans through straightforward language and realistic scenarios.
Each book breaks complex concepts into manageable steps, offering guidance on risk reduction, communication with responders, and recovery after a crisis. The series has become a trusted reference in the early childhood sector.
Practical Tools and Accredited Learning
Beyond training, ICP develops tools tailored for early education environments. This includes communication systems like the ICP walkie-talkies—designed specifically for child care settings. These devices support more effective emergency response and coordination between staff.
ICP is also accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET), allowing early childhood professionals to earn continuing education units (CEUs) while participating in ICP’s programs. This formal recognition underscores the rigor and quality of the training ICP provides.
“Educators show up with courage and love every day,” Andrew Roszak says. “We’re here to support them with real-world solutions.”
A Clear Mission With National Impact
While emergencies are unpredictable, preparation makes a difference. ICP’s work is focused on giving early childhood professionals the tools to respond with calm and clarity, not fear. As Andrew explains, “We can’t always prevent disasters. But we can be ready to respond when they happen.”
The organization’s commitment to creating safer early learning environments has helped shift the national conversation about preschool safety. It continues to influence policy, training standards, and daily classroom practices across the country.
As the conversation around safety continues to evolve, ICP remains the leading voice reminding us that even our youngest learners deserve the strongest protection.
Learn More About the Institute for Childhood Preparedness
To explore ICP’s resources or request a training session, visit the following links:
