Protecting Child Care Providers During Covid-19
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic is sweeping the world, our country and our communities. The coronavirus has affected every aspect of our daily lives, and has consumed most of our attention and energy.
Due to COVID-19, child care centers must consider temporarily closing, but are faced with the real fear that they may not be able to open again when the virus subsides. In a recent survey of 6,000 child care providers, only 11% were confident they would be able to re-open without assistance after a closure of an indefinite amount of time. 47% of those surveyed said they would not be able to survive even a two week closure.
Fortunately, Congress just passed a $2 trillion COVID-19 relief bill that includes $3.5 billion in funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and $750 million for Head Start. Additionally, child care providers will be able to access Small Business Administration loans, which can help them stay in business.
This stimulus package is a vital first step towards ensuring that providers are recognized and protected, and that families will have a safe, quality place for their children to return to when the crisis is over. But there is still more to do.
Children and families depend on child care. So we must continue to ensure that child care providers are able to survive this crisis so that parents are able to re-enter the workforce and know that their children are in the same quality care as they were before.
Learn how you can be an advocate for children, families and child care providers during this difficult time.
Take Action
Send a Message to Congress
Thank Congress and Urge Them to Keep Prioritizing Children!
The coronavirus relief package passed by Congress goes a long way in ensuring child care providers will be able to weather the coronavirus pandemic and continue serving kids and working families when the crisis is over.
Engage the Media and Your Networks
Below is a sample letter. Feel free to adapt and use.
Letter to the Editor – Word Document
Letter to the Editor – PDF
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View SCAN’s Press Release
Save the Children Action Network Press Release on Covid-19 Pandemic
March 27, 2020
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SCAN and its coalition partners have been writing letters to Congress, urging them to include the needs of children, families and child care providers in their stimulus bills. Read the letters below.
Include Child Care in the Next Economic Relief Package (March 17, 2020)
CBC Emergency Response Letter (March 24, 2020)
Child Care Community Statement (March 27, 2020)
How to Talk to Kids about Coronavirus
Save the Children has created a toolkit with resources and FAQ’s for families and parents.
Engage Candidates
The 2020 Election is still in full swing!
We need to make sure that the candidates are putting kids first.