Family Preparedness Plan
Family Preparedness Plan
Every family should have a Family Preparedness Plan. While it is our hope that you never have
to use your plan, it is a good practice to have one in place to help reduce the stress of the
unexpected. This packet will help everyone create a Family Preparedness Plan, regardless of
immigration status. However, because of the additional challenges immigrant and mixed status
families face, we also have additional advice for immigrants.
Have a plan so that a trusted adult can care for your child if you cannot. This plan should
include emergency numbers, a list of important contact information, a Caregivers
Authorization Affidavit and a file with important documents. This packet includes templates to
put together these documents.
Information and resources to find good immigration legal help is included in this packet.
If you have a green card, find out if you can become a U.S. citizen.
If you are here on a visa, find out if you can get a green card.
If you do not have immigration status, find out if you may be eligible to get a green card,
visa or work permit.
If you have a criminal arrest or conviction, find out how it might affect your situation, or if
there is a way to erase it from your record.
If you are detained or put into deportation proceedings, ask for a hearing in front of a
judge to get out of detention and to fight your deportation.
Everyone both documented and undocumented persons have rights in this country. Make
sure you, your family members (even children), housemates, neighbors, and co-workers,
regardless of their immigration status, know of their right to remain silent and all of their other
rights if ICE or the police come to your home, neighborhood or workplace. A list of these rights,
and a card asserting these rights, are included in this packet.
Without worrying them, assure your children that they will be taken care of if for some reason
you are unable to care for them, even for a short period of time. Let them know who will care
for them until you can.
Decide Who Can Care for Your Children if You Are Unable To
Talk to the people you would want to care for your children if you are unable to and make sure
they know they will be listed as emergency contacts. Memorize their phone numbers and have
your children memorize them too.
Make sure your children know who can pick them from up school, who cannot pick them up
from school, and who will care for them.
Your childs school may only release your child to adults you designate. Therefore, make sure to
regularly update all school, afterschool, day care, summer camp, and other programs
emergency contact sheets and release forms to include the names of those who can and cannot
pick up your children. If you have a restraining order against anyone, make sure to give a copy
of it to the school.
Make sure the people who can pick up and care for your children are up to date on your childs
location and school.
Write Down Instructions if Your Child Has Any Medical Conditions and /or
Takes Any Medications
Make sure to write down any medical conditions or allergies your child has, any medications
that your child takes, as well as doctor and health insurance information. Keep a copy of this
information in your important documents file. Give a copy to your childs school and the adult
you designate to care for your children. Let your child know where to find this information if
you are not around.
A Caregivers Authorization Affidavit is a form to give to your childs school or health care
provider so a non-parent relative can enroll your child in public school, make school-related
medical decisions, and make other important decisions on your childs behalf if you are unable
to. It allows non-relatives to enroll your child in school and to receive school-related medical
treatment. A template is in this packet. A Caregivers Authorization Affidavit does not affect
your rights as your childs parent you still have custody and control of your child.
Immigrant Legal Resource Center www.ilrc.org 2
Make Sure Your Children All Have Passports
If your child was born in the United States, visit www.travel.state.gov for more information on
obtaining a U.S. passport.
If your child was born in your home country, check with your embassy or consulate for more
information on obtaining a passport.
Inform Your Family and Emergency Contacts About How to Find You if You
Are Detained by ICE
You can designate and document someone you trust with Power of Attorney to make
financial, legal or child care decisions in your absence. You can designate this person to care
for your children; to make decisions for your children; to handle your finances; to manage
business decisions; to use your money to pay your rent or mortgage or to pay for your legal
and other expenses. A power of attorney for your child allows you to designate another
adult to make decisions for your child. It is temporary and does not require you to give up
your parental or custodial rights.
You can also register your childs birth with your countrys government (for example, with
your countrys consulate) if your child was born in the United States. This may grant your
child benefits, including citizenship in your home country in some cases.
Childs Name
Date of Birth
Childs Cell Phone Number (if applicable)
School
School Address
School Phone Number
Teachers Name
Classroom Number
Afterschool Program
Afterschool Program Phone Number
Other Camp/Sports/Program
Other Camp/Sports/Program Phone Number
Allergies
Medical conditions
Medications
Doctors Phone Number
Doctors Address
Health Insurance
Emergency Numbers
Immediate Emergency 911
Police Department
Fire Department
Poison Control
Family Contacts
Mother/Parent/Guardian
Home Phone
Cell Phone
Work Address
Work Phone
Father/Parent/Guardian
Home Phone
Cell Phone
Miscellaneous Contacts
Doctor
Phone Number
Health Insurance Company
Policy Number
Pediatrician
Phone Number
Health Insurance Company
Policy Number
Dentist
Phone Number
Dental Insurance Company
Policy Number
Car Make/Model
License Plate Number
Car Insurance Company
Insurance Policy Number
Phone Number
Consulate
Address
Phone Number
Use of this affidavit is authorized by Part 1.5 (commencing with Section 6550) of Division 11 of
the California Family Code. According to California Law, schools and medical care providers
must accept this form if it completed correctly.
Instructions: If the adult you designate to care for your child is not a family member, they
should fill out items 1-4 to authorize your childs enrollment in school and school-related
medical care. If the adult you designate to care for your child is a family member, they should
complete items 1-8 to authorize your childs enrollment in school and any medical care.
The minor named below lives in my (the caregivers) home and I am 18 years of age or older.
6. Check one or both (for example, if one parent was advised and the other cannot be located):
[ ] I have advised the parent(s) or other person(s) having legal custody of the minor of
my intent to authorize medical care, and have received no objection.
[ ] I am unable to contact the parent(s) or other person(s) having legal custody of the
minor at this time, to notify them of my intended authorization.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing is
true and correct.
Passports
Birth Certificates
Any Restraining Orders you may have against anyone (if applicable)
A-Number and any immigration documents (work permit, green card, visa, etc.)
Registry of birth (for U.S. born children registered in parents home country)(if applicable)
Children(s) Medical Information, including health insurance, medication list, and doctors
contact information
Do what you can now to protect you and your family in the United States.
If you have a green card, find out if you can become a U.S. citizen.
If you are here on a visa, find out if you can get a green card.
If you do not have immigration status, find out if you may be eligible to get a visa or work
permit.
If you have a criminal arrest or conviction, find out how it might affect your situation, or if
there is a way to erase it from your record.
If you are detained or put into deportation proceedings, ask for a hearing in front of a
judge to get out of detention and to fight your deportation.
Do not open the door for ICE or any police officer without a signed warrant. You do not need to
open the door unless an ICE agent can show you a warrant signed by a judge with your specific
and correct name and address on it. If ICE knocks on your door, ask them to slide the search
warrant under the door or through a window. Make sure the warrant is signed by a judge and
has your address on it. If ICE or the police do not have this, then you do not have to open the
door. Once you open the door, you lose certain rights.
Keep a Know Your Rights red card on you and by your door at all times. You can
slide it under the door to ICE it explains your rights and that you do not have to open the
door. Have your children and other family members practice sliding it under the door.
Talking to ICE
You do not have to talk to ICE or answer their questions. You have the right to remain
silent. You can refuse to speak to an ICE agent. Do not answer any questions, especially about
your birth place, immigration status or how you entered the United States. Do not give them
any personal information about yourself or anyone in your family. Say that you want to remain
You have the right to refuse to sign anything before you talk to a lawyer. Do not
sign anything you do not understand and agree with. That could eliminate your right to speak
with a lawyer or have a hearing in front of an immigration judge. This may result in you being
deported immediately without a hearing.
Ask to speak with your lawyer and to go before the immigration judge. You have the right
to speak to a lawyer and the right to make a phone call. Make sure to carry the
phone number for an immigration lawyer with you at all times.
Other Resources
Have the contact information for your countrys nearest consulate. Many consulates have an
emergency number for cases where you need immediate assistance from the consulate. Have
that number written down in case ICE detains you.
There are a lot of resources available to teach you about your rights. Below are just a few
places to start looking if you want to learn more about immigration law.