Whether you're working from home and trying to juggle job responsibilities, taking care of young kids, and keeping the house in order or need to head back to work as the country opens back up, your thoughts may turn toward child care. As day cares reopen, many parents are wondering if it's safe to send their children back while COVID-19 cases are spiking.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continually updates its coronavirus guidelines. Designed to help businesses and individuals slow and prevent the spread of COVID-19, these guidelines can help assuage parents' fears. Social distancing strategies, expanded sanitation efforts, child drop-off and pickup protocols, and arrival screenings are just part of the safety measures in place.
For parents and caregivers having difficulty finding a day care provider or whose regular facility remains closed, Childcare Aware of America can help. The nonprofit program is designed to provide tools and resources for families in need of child care services. The website includes up-to-date child care facility information by state. An at-a-glance map illustrates day care stages of reopening across the country. Drilling down by state provides specific information and guidelines for child care providers.
Childcare Aware also includes day care reopening information for parents in the wake of COVID-19. It lists grants available or distributed within a particular state for COVID-19 emergency supplies and sanitation. For parents who find themselves without child care, there is a directory of child care referral service providers throughout the country.
Parents with questions as to a child care facility's reopening strategy are urged to do their due diligence. Ask as many questions as needed. Having confidence that your child's day care is doing everything it can to keep everyone safe will give you the peace of mind needed for a productive workday.
