The children of health care workers, retail workers, and other essential professionals need safe, welcoming environments to spend their time while schools are closed. New policies, points of flexibility, and waivers are in place to help support the programs that choose to stay open and serve these young people; and we've got recommendations for how programs and their own essential staff can stay safe as they care for their community.
YMCA of Silicon Valley is providing an essential service in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis: allowing many parents to keep going to work. They're transitioning several facilities into "pop-up" day camps where parents can drop off their children while they go to their jobs. They're also partnering with El Camino Hospital to offer free childcare for hospital employees, and with the Morgan Hill Unified School District to provide childcare for essential staff and first responders. YMCA staff offer youth development activities, independent study and free meals across the programs for students from transitional kindergarten through middle school.
Migrant children in Florida still have a safe place to learn while schools are closed, thanks to a tent school outside the Gargiulo Education Center. Markers outline six-foot boundaries and spaces are sterilized between each session with 9-10 children at a time. Logging the extra instruction hours helps these students stay on-track!
With all of its facilities close for regular services, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta stepped up to support first responders, medical professionals, and essential workers by caring for their children while they work. The Y worked with area hospitals, the Governor's Office, and Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning to transition sites to meet this need, making careful adjustments such as limiting groups to 10 children and having nurses on site to check for symptoms and monitor temperatures of all participants at drop off. To meet the need for 2,000 children identified by hospital partners, each center is set up to serve approximately 80 children, ages 3-12, and is open from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Read more on Y's blog
While policies differ greatly, there are some common elements. Key similarities in the guidance include:
- Prioritizing who may access these services. Essential workers are typically divided into two tiers. Tier One workers are healthcare workers, but may also include those providing other essential services, such as first responders, grocery store employees or childcare providers. Tier Two workers tend to be those in jobs related to national defense, critical infrastructure such as sanitation and public utilities, or critical manufacturing.
- Class sizes generally limited to no more than 10 children.
- Guidelines on health and safety standards; including daily cleaning, temperature screenings of children, and handwashing instructions.
- Information or waivers on temporary licenses to help childcare centers and afterschool programs serve essential workers.
- Maps or lists of where open childcare centers are located.
The Institute for Childhood Preparedness created an extensive guide to help afterschool programs and child care centers provide services for children of essential workers. Topics covered include coordination with local governments and partners, staffing, and health and safety considerations.
Childcare for Essential Workers During COVID-19: YMCA of Metro Atlanta
With all of its facilities close for regular services, the YMCA of Metro Atlanta stepped up to support first responders, medical professionals, and essential workers by caring for their children while they work. The Y worked with area hospitals, the Governor's Office, and Georgia's Department of Early Care and Learning to transition sites to meet this need, making careful adjustments such as limiting groups to 10 children and having nurses on site to check for symptoms and monitor temperatures of all participants at drop off. To meet the need for 2,000 children identified by hospital partners, each center is set up to serve approximately 80 children, ages 3-12, and is open from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Many states and localities are issuing guidance for afterschool programs and childcare centers. We'll update the chart below with guidance as it becomes available.
