As the country and states individually are making determinations about what is required to address COVID-19, we wanted to make sure that you are equipped to manage the risks within your own communities. The CDC has issued a Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist. Additionally, stay abreast of the government’s response at the CDC’s website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html.
Federal agencies have begun to provide for flexibilities and provide blanket waivers for meeting federal requirements. Guidance is on their respective websites – OCC, OHS, and FNS.
During this time, you will likely need to consider policies for:
Limiting parents entry into the classroom;
Sanitizing daily or more;
Waiving attendance policy;
Canceling trainings and meetings;
Excluding teachers and children exhibiting symptoms;
Handwashing;
Limiting entry into child development centers;
Delivery of resources and food orders;
Cleaning and sanitizing toys and play spaces;
Allowing non-essential employees to work from home;
Eliminating family-style dining;
Cleaning and sanitizing office spaces and vehicles.
Additionally, there are examples of how Tribes and States are managing their own services available from across the country that you can access – Chickasaw Nation (OK), Delaware Child Development (OK), North Carolina, Rosebud Sioux Tribe (SD), Texas.
If you have a policy that you are willing to share, please upload it here. Please also share how your program and community have been affected by COVID-19. Your stories are important for ensuring that child care programs are receiving the supports required to meet the needs of our communities.
To stay abreast of the latest on COVID-19, check out the live data website developed by a 17-year old from Seattle.