April 30, 2020 Mayor Peduto Calls for Online SNAP Purchasing Options On April 28, Mayor William Peduto issued a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in support of efforts to expand affordable SNAP purchasing options — including food delivery and online ordering — for vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. About Mayor Peduto’s letter follows calls by U.S. Senator Bob Casey and others to expand the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides eligible low-income residents with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) debit card to purchase food. Currently, SNAP recipients cannot make any food purchases online. While other consumers can use online ordering and delivering to protect themselves and others from spreading the virus, these options are not available to low-income residents and families who are forced to make their purchases in person, increasing their likelihood of contracting COVID-19. Senator Casey has been calling on the USDA to expand SNAP delivery options since March when stay-at-home guidelines were put into effect in Pennsylvania and across the United States of America. The Food Policy Council wants the USDA to allow SNAP recipients to purchase food for delivery and to allow other safe food purchasing options, such as allowing users to use their EBT cards for Instacart or online farmers market services. What is SNAP? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of low-income families so they can purchase healthy food. Eligible applicants receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) ACCESS Card to make food purchases. To check your eligibility or apply, please visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website. For questions about SNAP, call the Department of Human Services helpline at 1.800.692.7462 or your county assistance office. For individuals with hearing impairments, please call 1.800.451.5886. More on SNAP Purchasing Options To learn more, view the full press release or a copy of the letter to Secretary Perdue. *Information provided by the City of Pittsburgh
April 28, 2020 APOST Requests Virtual Summer Conference Workshop Submissions The Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST) will be hosting a Virtual Summer Conference for Out-of-School Time from Tuesday, May 26 through Friday, June 5, 2020. At this time, APOST is accepting workshop submissions from education leaders. Continue reading below to learn more. About The Virtual Summer Conference for Out-of-School Time will target youth workers in out-of-school time and summer settings. This includes frontline staff, program managers, executive directors, mentors, and more. In regard to workshop submissions, APOST is looking for depth of experience and expertise rather than breadth. With this, they strongly encourage workshops focused on the following themes: social-emotional learning; community trauma and trauma-informed care; health and wellness in out-of-school time; creating inclusive spaces in out-of-school time; engaging children and parents during COVID-19; how to speak to youth about COVID-19; and ways to successfully implement virtual programming. Workshop sizes will most likely not be capped as this event will be virtual, but facilitation preference will be left up to the presenters. Submit Your Proposal To learn more or submit a proposal, please complete APOST’s online form. All submissions must be received by Tuesday, May 5. Event hosts send out their final decision on Friday, May 8. More Information For questions or more information, contact APOST at 412.456.6876 or apost@uwac.org.
April 17, 2020 CHIP Will Maintain Enrollment During COVID-19 Crisis On April 15, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that it is “making temporary changes to Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to keep families enrolled in CHIP for the duration of the public health emergency and to ease access to medical services for children being screened or receiving treatment for COVID-19.” What is CHIP? The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is Pennsylvania’s program to provide health insurance to uninsured children and teens who are not eligible for or enrolled in Medical Assistance. For most families, the program is free. Families with incomes above the free CHIP limits pay low monthly premiums and copays for some services. CHIP covers any uninsured child or teen up to the age of 19 and guarantees 12 months of coverage unless the family no longer meets basic eligibility requirements. There is not a waiting list to enroll in the program. Caregivers must renew their coverage every year to continue receiving services. To learn more and apply, visit the CHIP webpage. Included Changes The following changes to CHIP will be in effect until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency: Families will not be denied or disenrolled from coverage for administrative or financial reasons. An example of an administrative reason would be not being able to provide proof of income. Families will not pay a copay for services that are for COVID-19 screenings, testing, or treatment. Families who cannot provide paperwork to verify information on an application or renewal can provide self-attestation of information by signing the application or renewal. Families will be given more time to pay premiums, if needed. These changes were made due to the economic and financial hardship that many families across the Commonwealth are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, families must still provide verification of information provided on an application and are still responsible for copays for services not related to COVID-19. Families will still be required to pay premiums, if applicable. However, if a family is unable to pay due to a decrease in or loss of income, that family must contact their managed care organization immediately and can request a reassessment because of an income change at any time. More Information For more information, read the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services’ full press release.
April 16, 2020 COVID-19: Resources for Early Learning Programs If you work for or operate an early learning program in Pennsylvania, including public and private schools; child care centers; group child care homes; family child care homes; family, friend, and neighbor care, it’s important to remain calm, prepare, and take precautionary measures. By doing so, you will help to maintain the health and wellbeing of yourself, other staff, and the communities you serve. For up-to-date recommendations and COVID-19 Resources for Early Learning programs, please visit the ELRC Region 5 website. Continue reading below for a brief overview of COVID-19; information about waivers and enrollment capacity; and a list of resources. An Overview of COVID-19 COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus not previously seen in humans. Because the virus impacts the respiratory system, common symptoms of infection include fever, dry cough, tiredness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing. However, WHO states that some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, and diarrhea. After being infected with COVID-19, individuals generally display mild symptoms that begin gradually, but some people who become infected may not develop any symptoms at all and may feel healthy. To learn more about COVID-19 and the steps you can take to reduce your family’s risk of infection, read our recent news post. This post also includes information about what to do after infection, information on how it spreads, and links to several other organizations and entities that can provide more information. National Sex Offender Registry Clearances According to the Department of Human Services Office Child Development & Early Learning Bureau of Certification Services, no exceptions will be made for expired or late National Sex Offender Registry (NSOR) clearances after regular child care operations resume. Once regular child care operations resume statewide, staff will not be permitted to return to early learning programs if any of their clearances are expired. For this reason, it is recommended that all staff who require new or renewed finger-print checks should do so as soon as possible at one of the following available facilities. To learn more about NSOR changes in the last 12 months, please visit ELRC Region 5’s news post. COVID-19 Resources for Early Learning Programs Information about COVID-19 Daily Updates from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, PAcast How COVID-19 Spreads, CDC Coronavirus, Social Distancing, and Self-Quarantine, Johns Hopkins Medicine Informational Videos about COVID-19, CDC Why are people wearing masks? Why are people covering their faces?, ZERO TO THREE CDC Report: Coronavirus Strikes All Ages, AARP Stress, Resilience, and the Role of Science: Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic, Harvard University, Center on the Developing Child People who are at a higher risk of severe illness, CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), AAP COVID-19 and Children: FAQ, CDC Coronavirus Information for Education, PA Department of Health COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnel, U.S. Department of Education How Schools Should Respond to State Laws Regarding COVID-19, Child Trends A Message on COVID-19 From the Children’s Bureau, Children’s Bureau Guidance for Providers Revised Interim Guidance for Certified Child Care Facilities Operating During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic, Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning Health & Safety Guidance for Open Early Learning Programs, ELRC Region 5 Guidance for Operating a Child Care Center, OCDEL Guidance for Operating a Family Child Care Center, OCDEL Guidance for Schools and Child Care Programs, CDC Guidance for Schools and Child Cares, The Pennsylvania Key Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), U.S. Small Bussiness Administration Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans Immediately Available to Child Care Providers, First Five Years Fund Coronavirus Emergency Loans: Small Business Guide and Checklist (English) (Spanish), U.S. Chamber of Commerce Best Practices for Child Care Programs Operating During COVID-19, ELRC Region 5 and Trying Together COVID-19: Updates for Early Educators & Families in Allegheny County, ELRC Region 5 Staffed Family Child Care Networks Can Navigate A New World Order, Opportunities Exchange Coronavirus Information for Education: Pre-K, K-12 Schools, and Higher Education, PA Department of Health Interim Guidance for Administrators of US K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs, CDC Coronavirus Prevention and Response, Office of Head Start (OHS) Ensuring Students with Disabilities Continue to Receive Services, U.S. Department of Education Office of Child Care COVID-19 Resources, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Child Care As COVID-19 spreads, most states have laws that address how schools should respond to pandemics, Child Trends Scholastic Learn at Home: Free Resources for School Closures, Scholastic Coronavirus News & Resources for Child Care Professionals, Families and Policymakers, Child Care Aware of America Child Care for Essential Workers during Coronavirus Outbreak, Child Care Aware of America Questions and Answers on Providing Services to Children with Disabilities During the Coronavirus Outbreak, U.S. Department of Education Small Business Survival Guide to Combat COVID-19, FINIMPACT Online Learning: Education in Isolation, Digital Trends Considerations for Schools, CDC COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness Plan for Child Care Providers, HiMama Early Learning Early Learning Resources During COVID-19, ELRC Region 5 A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Through Coronavirus, Teaching Tolerance Can Virtual Preschool Be Developmentally Appropriate?, Child Care Lounge Amid coronavirus, Comcast makes Wi-Fi network free, expands unlimited data to all, TRIB Live Spectrum to offer free internet to students during Coronavirus outbreak, WECT 6 News Zoom CEO Eric Yuan Is Giving K-12 Schools His Videoconferencing Tools For Free, Forbes 3 Ways to Turn Your Classroom Remote in a Hurry, KQED Information for teachers during COVID-19 school closures, School Closures Schools Are Hosting Virtual Theme Weeks to Cheer Up Quarantined Kids, We Are Teachers Creative Ways Teachers Are Building Classroom Community Online, We Are Teachers Our Favorite Virtual P.E. Resources to Keep Kids Moving at Home, We Are Teachers 161 Science Documentaries You Can Watch Right Now (No Membership Required), PBS SOCAL 121 Tools for Distance Learning & Strategies for Student Engagement, Albert Bringing the Zoo to You, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium Request a Library Card to Access E-Books & More, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Free Distance Learning Plans for K–2 Students and Their Families, Common Sense Media History at Home, Senator John Heinz History Center A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development, Harvard University Early Learning Resource Center, DHS Creative Curriculums, Trust Arts Education NASA at Home – For Kids and Families, NASA Wonderschool Learn-at-Home Ideas, Wonderschool 5 Things To Help Prepare Your Kiddo For School During COVID, LazyOne Home Learning Support, Twinkl Preschool During the Pandemic: Early Childhood Education in Extraordinary Times, ECTA Talking with Children Caring for Each Other, Sesame Street Responding to Children’s Emotional Needs During Times of Crisis, Healthy Children, AAP Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19, NCTSN Are your kids anxious about Coronavirus? Dr. G is here to help, Kidsburgh How to Talk to Your Kids About Coronavirus, PBS KIDS for Parents Talking with Your Children about COVID-19, the CDC Online Interactive Game that Teaches Children about Germs and Handwashing, Luma One A guide to keeping your child safe and reassured as coronavirus spreads, CNN Health Washing Your Hands, CDC How to Wash Hands, Sesame Street Hand Washing for Kids: 5 Easy Steps to Teach Hand Hygiene, Moms Against Cooties Kick Germs to The Curb While Singing This Daniel Tiger Song!, Fred Rogers Productions A Guide to COVID-19 and Early Childhood Development, Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University Healthy at Home (Toolkit), Ready Rosie, The Creative Curriculum, and Teaching Strategies Coronavirus (COVID-19): How to Talk to Your Child, KidsHealth Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus, Child Mind Institute Are Your Kids Anxious About Coronavirus? Dr. G is Here to Help, Kidsburgh Helping Kids Who Are Worried About Coronavirus, Counselor Keri Supporting Individuals with Autism through Uncertain Times, UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute Autism Team Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs in Emergencies, CDC Prevention COVID-19 Self-Checker, CDC Checklists for Teachers and Parents, CDC FAQs for Administrators, Teachers, and Parents, CDC Pennsylvania Emergency Preparedness Guide, Ready PA Parents: Get Your Children Ready for COVID-19, CDC Recommendations for Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Environment, CDC Three ways to protect yourself and others from COVID-19, MIT Medical Practices to Stay Healthy, U.S. Department of Education Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist, CDC After Infection What to do if you are sick or suspect that you’re sick with COVID-19, CDC Recommended precautions for household members, intimate partners, and caregivers, CDC What You Should Do If Caring for Someone with Coronavirus, American Red Cross Employee Rights, United States Department of Labor Impacts on Child Care, School, and Work U.S. Department of Education Releases “COVID-19 Handbook, Volume 2: Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students’ Needs” Information for Pennsylvania Employees Impacted by COVID-19, Office of Unemployment Compensation Coronavirus & Paid Family Leave, Single Mom Defined Create a Backup Child Care Plan, Child Care Aware of North Dakota Coronavirus and School Closures, Education Week Coronavirus Information for Education: Pre-K, K-12 Schools, and Higher Education, PA Department of Health Ensuring Students with Disabilities Continue to Receive Services, U.S. Department of Education To Close or Not? How Superintendents Decide to Shut Down Schools, Education Week Updates from the Port Authority Unemployed and quarantined Pittsburghers can receive unemployment money faster, with fewer requirements, Public Source Map: Coronavirus and School Closures, Education Week Governor Wolf Extends School Closure for Remainder of Academic Year, Governor Wolf Exception of Directive to Temporairly Close, PAKEYS Child Care Works Payment Modifications Due to Impacts Related to Corona Virus, OCDEL Schools and Child Care Programs: Plan, Prepare, and Respond, CDC Fact Sheets What You Need to Know about COVID-19 (English) (Spanish) (Simplified Chinese), CDC Fact Sheet from the Allegheny County Health Department Fact Sheet from the Pennsylvania Department of Health Informational Flyers Stop the Spread of Germs, Allegheny County Department of Health Keeping Your Home, School, and Workplace Safe, CDC Helping Children and Families Cope, NCPMI Resources Especially Helpful During the COVID-19 Response, ACDHS OID Mental Health Toll-Free 24-Hour Emotional Support Help Line (866.342.6892), Optum National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1.800.273.8255) Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19, CDC Seven Ways to Cope With Anxiety During the Coronavirus Outbreak, AARP Boxed In: COVID-19 and Your Mental Health, Everyday Health Stress and Coping, CDC Receiving Support Support for Helpers During Coronavirus, Fred Rogers Center Comcast’s Internet Essentials (offering two free months to new customers) PWSA Extends, Expands Shut Off Moratorium in Response to COVID-19, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Neighbors Support – COVID-19 Resources, Representative Sara Innamorato Pittsburgh Mutual Aid: Resource Library Many Homeowners Eligible for Temporary Relief From Mortgage Payments, AARP COVID-19 & Family Resources, Family Centers Network Shared Services Central, Opportunities Exchange Child Care Centers, DHS Information for Pennsylvania Employees Impacted by COVID-19, Office of Unemployment Compensation Virtual IEP Meeting Tip Sheets, Center for Parent Information & Resources Multilingual Resources A Round-Up of Multilingual Resources on COVID-19, Switchboard COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions, UPMC CDC Prevention Flyer, RCUSA Additional Resources in Spanish ChildCare Aware of America: Quédese actualizado con las noticias y los recursos más recientes sobre el Coronavirus, Child Care Aware of America COVID-19 Info in Other Languages, CPIR Curated Lists Resources on COVID-19 in PA for ECE Programs and Professionals, The Pennsylvania Key COVID-19 Resource Page, PEAL Center COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Information and Resources, NAMI Coping with COVID-19, NAEYC Resources for Early Childhood Policymakers on Preventing and Preparing for COVID-19, NIEER Rapid Response Resources: COVID-19, PIE Network The Social Care Network, Auntbertha Stay-at-Home Resource Page, Tickets for Kids Coronavirus Suite Landing Page, CPIR COVID-19 Resources From Every Hour Counts, Every Hour Counts Free Stuff for Teachers: Tools for a Unique 2020–2021 School Year, Coupon Chief Blog Online COVID-19 Resources for Kids, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Distance Learning Resources, Inclusive Schools Network Recorded Webinars Caring for Each Other, Brazelton Touchpoints and Sesame Workshop Don’t Look Away: Embracing Anti-Bias Classrooms, EdWeb Contacts and Information Commonwealth of Pennsylvania www.pa.gov Pennsylvania Department of Health www.health.pa.gov 1.877.72.432584 | 1.877.PA.HEALTH Allegheny County Health Department www.alleghenycouty.us 412.687.2243 Allegheny County Alerts (COVID-19 Alerts) www.alleghenycounty.us/alerts United Way www.pa211sw.org Dial 2.1.1 | Text Your Zip Code to 898-211 (Text Alerts) United States Department of Education www.ed.gov/coronavirus Email: covid-19@ed.gov Optum (Free Emotional Support Helpline) 866.342.6892 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline suicidepreventionlifeline.org 1.800.273.8255 (English) | 1.888.628.9454 (Spanish) | 1.800.799.4889 (Deaf or Hard of Hearing) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline 1.800.985.5990 | Text (English): TalkWithUs to 66746 | Text (Spanish): Hablanos to 66746 More Information For more information about COVID-19, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or World Health Organization (WHO) websites.
April 15, 2020 Family Strengths Survey Now Available During the COVID-19 pandemic, parents and adult caregivers are vital in supporting the care, education, and healthy development of young children. Each caregiver and family will have their own unique experiences during these tough times, with many requiring assistance to acquire food, pay bills, and access other critical services. To better understand which resources have been the most helpful and to ensure that these resources remain available, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics launched the “Family Strengths Survey.” The survey is open to the public and all answers will be submitted anonymously. Take the Survey If you are interested in submitting the Family Strengths survey in English, please visit the survey webpage or call 412.692.8026. The survey is also available in Spanish. You Could Win At the end of the survey, participants will have the choice to enter your name and contact information for a chance to receive a $100 gift card. Five people will be randomly selected each week from everyone who answers the survey. The contact information that you provide will never be linked to your answers in the survey. Visit the survey webpage to learn more. More Information For more information about the survey or to see weekly updates on survey results, please visit the Family Strengths Survey webpage. For questions, please contact PGHstudy@pitt.edu. For more information on COVID-19, including daily updates, please click here to visit our COVID-19 resources page.
April 14, 2020 Food Assistance Programs Available in Pennsylvania Nearly one in seven households with children in the United States of America currently cannot afford to buy enough food for their families. When looking locally, the food insecurity rate in Allegheny County is 13 percent as of 2017. That is more than 161,000 people in the county, including nearly 38,000 children. Elected officials at all levels of government have the ability to enact policies that protect and support child nutrition programs and improve the health and well-being of children and their families. We just have to make sure that they are in office. How You Can Help Together, we can create a better future with our votes, advocacy, and support. However, if you are not registered to vote or if your voter registration is not up-to-date, you will miss out on important opportunities to share your voice and elect local, state, and national policymakers. Take this time to check your voter registration and encourage others to do the same! Another way that you can make sure your voice is heard is by singing the America for Early Ed Pledge to Vote! Our voices and votes can ensure that all children in Pennsylvania receive the food and nutrition services they need to grow up healthy and strong. Will you join us in signing the Pledge? To learn more about food insecurity in America, view this document by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). For information about available food services, please continue reading below. Available Resources If you or someone you know is in need of food assistance during the COVID-19 health crisis, please view the list below for information about available programs and services. Pennsylvania 2.1.1 Southwest If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call 2.1.1, text your zip code to 898.211, or visit the Pennsylvania (PA) 2.1.1 website. PA 2.1.1 Southwest seeks to provide an easy-to-remember phone number and web resource for finding health and human services for everyday needs and in crisis situations, serving the following counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland. Allegheny County Free Food Distribution Map For information about free resource distribution sites in Allegheny County, please visit this website. The map includes information about locations with no age restriction, locations that serve children only, PPS Grab and Go locations, and more. View the full map to view other available resource types. Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank provides information on emergency distributions, applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), accessing a food pantry near you, and more. If visiting a pantry, please call before your visit to confirm that the site’s hours have not changed. For more information, contact the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank at 412.460.3663. To apply for SNAP, call toll-free at 833.822.7627, text SNAPPA to 555-888, or complete the online referral form. Just Harvest Just Harvest continues to provide assistance to community members applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medical Assistance, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, as well as case advocacy and eligibility screenings. To receive assistance, fill out this form or call 412.431.8960, x602 and state your name, contact info, and the best time to reach you from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Southwest Pennsylvania Meals on Wheels Southwest Pennsylvania Meals on Wheels provides home meal delivery for people over the age of 60 and to those of any age who are recovering from an injury, illness, or surgery. The program costs seven dollars per day, which provides two meals. A quart of milk is provided once a week. Meals can be provided as many days a week as needed. Services are available to community members living in the following areas: Beechview, Bridgeville, Carnegie, Cecil, Clinton, Collier Township, Crafton, Dormont, Greentree, Heidelberg, Imperial, Ingram, Mt Lebanon, Oakdale, Robinson Township, Scott Township, South Fayette, Upper St. Clair, and Westwood. To learn more, visit their website! South Hills Interfaith Movement (SHIM) SHIM provides access to their pantry items via pre-packaged boxes. However, shop-thru style pantries are temporarily suspended. All pantry volunteers will implement safe distancing, wear gloves at all times, and sanitize all services. Services are available to community members in the following school districts: Baldwin-Whitehall, Bethel Park, South Park, Keystone Oaks, Mt. Lebanon, and Upper St. Clair. Visit the SHIM website to learn more about the program and view their pantry hours. For questions, please contact Molly Penderville at 412.854.9120, x108 or mpatterson@shimcares.org. JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry The JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry is open and continues to serve community members who have a 15217 zip code and families that eat Kosher in communities outside of the area code. Individuals receive pre-bagged foods when they come into the pantry. Contact 412.421.2708 or visit their website for more information.
April 8, 2020 Schedule Summer/Fall PD Today! Are you thinking about summer and fall? Schedule Custom 2020 Professional Development dates for your early learning program today! The deadline to guarantee your preferred date is June 1, 2020. Space is limited! About Focusing on early childhood professionals working in home, center, and school-based settings, Trying Together delivers professional growth opportunities in-person, virtually, and online. Customized offerings can be created and targeted to individual or group goals, interests, or needs. To submit a request for professional services, complete and submit Trying Together’s online request form. All requests must be received before June 1, 2020 to guarantee your preferred date. More 2020 Professional Development Information For questions or more information, contact Jasmine Davis at jasmine@tryingtogether.org or 412.567.3933. For government resources for early learning professionals, click here.
April 6, 2020 COVID-19 Impact on Child Care Survey Now Available Many states, including Pennsylvania, have ordered all non-life-sustaining businesses to close their physical spaces as a mitigation effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). While lists of impacted businesses often include gyms, movie theaters, and clothing stores, they also often include a critical service that impacts families and caregivers across the nation: child care. To better understand the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on families and caregivers, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has launched a detailed survey and is seeking submissions from the public. About On March 12, 2020, NAEYC launched a survey asking child care programs to share the challenges they were expecting to face and to comment on what they needed to protect children, families, and our nation’s supply of child care programs. NAEYC received responses from 11,500 educators in family child care and center-based programs across the country, which has helped shape federal and state responses to the pandemic. Now, several weeks into the pandemic, as many states take action and a federal stimulus bill has passed, NAEYC is launching a more detailed survey with the intention to help organizations and policymakers understand the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and the solutions that have been put forth thus far. Complete the COVID-19 Impact on Child Care Survey This survey is for everyone, including center-based programs, family child care programs, and others. However, not all questions may apply to your specific situation. Please complete the survey and fill out applicable questions to help NAEYC gather a range of perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on child care. To participate, please visit the survey page. More Information For questions, please contact NAEYC at info@naeyc.org or 800.424.2460. For more information on COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Resources page here.
