Violation

California Code § 102417(g)(7)Emergency Contact Information

How CCLD inspectors cite this regulation, what providers do to stay clear of it, and where it appears in the public record.

Type A, seriousAffects Family Child Care Homes39 facilities cited in the last 90 days

ℹ️ Educational reference based on public CCLD inspection records. Not legal or compliance advice. Verify requirements with official sources. Full disclaimer →

Regulation text

What California Code § 102417(g)(7) actually says

California Code § 102417(g)(7)

An emergency information card shall be maintained for each child and shall include the child's full name, telephone number and location of a parent or other responsible adult to be contacted in an emergency, the name and telephone number of the child's physician and the parent's authorization for the licensee or registrant to consent to emergency medical care.

From the field

What providers tell us about this citation

Based on community experience, not official guidance.

Inspectors pull emergency cards during every visit, not just when something goes wrong. They pick a few children at random, ask to see their cards, and check that phone numbers actually work. Riverside County inspectors are particularly thorough about this, sometimes calling the listed number on the spot. The most common citation isn't a missing card, it's an outdated one. Parents change jobs, switch phone numbers, and move without telling you. Build a quick card review into your re-enrollment process every six months, and keep a simple tracking sheet showing when each card was last verified. Cards need to be physically accessible within seconds. If you have to unlock a filing cabinet, dig through a folder, and search by last name during an emergency, that's too slow. A binder organized by classroom or age group, stored where any staff member can grab it immediately, is what inspectors want to see.

By the numbers

39^*CCLD: facilities cited in the last 90 days
21^*CCLD: counties where this citation appeared
19^*CCLD: rank among most-common citations
Trajectory: More citations than the prior period
+10 facilities

39 facilities were cited for this in the last 90 days. See if yours is one of them.

Check a facility

What other providers do

Common practices to stay clear of Emergency Contact Information

Common practices shared by providers. Confirm requirements with your licensing analyst.

Common practices

Maintain current emergency card for every enrolled child
Include parent/guardian contact information and emergency contacts
Record child's physician name and phone number
Obtain written parental authorization for emergency medical treatment

What to avoid

Switching to a digital enrollment system and assuming it replaces physical emergency cards. Electronic records are fine for administrative purposes, but inspectors expect to see a card or printout they can physically access during an emergency. If your system goes down or loses power, you still need immediate access to contact information.
Collecting emergency cards at enrollment and never updating them. Families change phone numbers, move, switch pediatricians, and add or remove emergency contacts without notifying providers. A card from two years ago with a disconnected phone number is functionally the same as no card at all.
Missing the emergency medical authorization signature. The card might have every phone number and address filled in perfectly, but if the parent hasn't signed the line authorizing emergency medical treatment, the card is incomplete. Inspectors specifically check for this signature because it has real legal consequences during a medical emergency.
Keeping emergency cards in a location that only the lead provider can access. If you're the one having the medical emergency, or if you're off-site when an incident occurs, your assistant needs to find that child's card within seconds. Every caregiver in the home should know exactly where cards are stored.

Regional record

Where this citation appeared in the past 90 days

Citation counts and rates by California county, drawn from CCLD inspection records. Click a county to see its weekly intelligence report.

Regional citations for Emergency Contact Information, last 90 days
County	Citations	Facilities	Citation rate
San Diego	9	--	--
Riverside	7	--	--
Sutter	2	--	--
Sacramento	2	--	--
Los Angeles	2	--	--
Santa Clara	2	--	--
Kern	1	--	--
Kings	1	--	--
Modoc	1	--	--
Merced	1	--	--

SOURCE

*CCLD: California Community Care Licensing Divisionviolation_citations2026-05-08Updated weekly

Articles about this topic

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Answers based on public CCLD data and regulation text. May not reflect recent changes.

What is Emergency Contact Information?

California Code 102417(g)(7) requires you to maintain an emergency information card for each enrolled child with the parent's phone number and location, the child's physician name and number, and written parental authorization for emergency medical care. This isn't just a contact list. It's a legal document that gives you authority to get a child medical treatment when their parent isn't reachable. For your daily operations, every caregiver in your home needs to know exactly where these cards are and be able to grab one within seconds.

How common is this citation?

According to California CCLD inspection records as of March 15, 2026, 28 facilities have been cited for this violation in the past 90 days across 18 California counties. That's roughly 1 in 1,429 inspected facilities. San Diego County leads with 6 citations, followed by Los Angeles with 3. The distribution across 18 counties, more than any other regulation in this group, shows inspectors everywhere are checking emergency cards consistently.

What triggers this citation during an inspection?

Inspectors pick children at random from your roster and ask to see their emergency cards immediately. Based on CCLD inspection patterns, the most common finding isn't a missing card but an outdated one with disconnected phone numbers or a former pediatrician. Riverside County inspectors sometimes call the listed number on the spot. They specifically check for the parent's signature authorizing emergency medical treatment. A card with every field filled in but no authorization signature is incomplete and gets documented.

How can I prevent this citation?

Build a card review into your re-enrollment process every six months. Ask parents to verify phone numbers, emergency contacts, and physician information. Check every card for the emergency medical authorization signature, since that's the most commonly missed element. Store cards in a binder organized by classroom or age group where any staff member can reach it within seconds, not locked in a filing cabinet. This review takes about 10 minutes per family twice a year.

What should I do if I receive this citation?

Send updated emergency card forms home with every family within 48 hours. Verify each returned card has current phone numbers, physician information, and the signed emergency medical authorization. Set up a tracking sheet showing when each card was last verified, and begin the six-month review cycle. Ensure cards are stored where all caregivers can access them immediately, not just the lead provider. For complex situations, consider consulting a licensed childcare compliance specialist.

Related violations

Other citations in this regulation family

This information is educational and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed child care compliance consultant for guidance specific to your facility. Citation data is sourced from California Community Care Licensing Division public records and is refreshed regularly.

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