August 18, 2025 Best Practices to Prevent the Spread of Infections As the new school year begins, early learning programs can reduce the spread of illness by following routine health and safety practices. Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease The number of hand-foot-and-mouth disease cases are growing in the Philadelphia region. The illness, which typically produces rashes and painful sores, has primarily been spreading in day care centers and summer camps. Hand-foot-and-mouth is a mild illness caused by viruses – most often, a virus known as coxsackievirus A16 – according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease is most common in young children, but people of any age can catch it. Viruses that cause the illness can spread easily between people and through the air. Symptoms of the disease include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet. While there’s no specific treatment for hand-foot-and-mouth, most people get better in seven to 10 days. With the 2025-25 school year approaching, the likelihood of viruses like hand-foot-and-mouth and respiratory viruses spreading among students at school is on the rise. Preventing the Spread of Illnesses The CDC has provided guidance on how students can stay healthy by minimizing the spread of infections in school. Infections often spread because of shared objects, close contact with others, students playing closely together, a lack of cleaning and disinfection routines and supplies, and lack of proper ventilation. The CDC recommends that schools emphasize: Take steps for cleaner air Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting Hand washing Respiratory etiquette Vaccinations Cleaner Air The CDC suggests improving air quality by improving ventilation in buildings or moving gatherings outside. Strategies to provide cleaner air include: Ensuring existing HVAC systems are providing the minimum outdoor air ventilation requirement in accordance with ventilation design codes Considering ventilation design and/or enhancements when remodeling or constructing new buildings to optimize clean air Opening windows to increase ventilation, as long as this does not create a safety hazard Using portable air cleaners in spaces with low ventilation Holding some activities outside, such as lunch, certain classes, or recess Keeping bus windows open when it does not create a safety hazard Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Schools should put into place procedures for routinely cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often – such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys. Surfaces that are visibly soiled with blood or other bodily fluids should be immediately cleaned. Schools should consult with their state or local health department to determine how to clean and disinfect particular infectious diseases when new pathogens emerge. Hand Washing Teaching and reinforcing proper handwashing can lower the risk of spreading illnesses. Schools should set routines or scheduled opportunities for handwashing throughout the day. Schools should also provide adequate handwashing supplies – soap, water, and power towels – within easy reach of users. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be provided. Respiratory Etiquette Schools should teach and reinforce respiratory etiquette to keep individuals from getting and spreading respiratory viruses, such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19. Teachers should reinforce covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throwing the tissue in the trash after use. If a tissue is not available, students and staff should be reminded to sneeze into the elbow, not the hands. Handwashing should be performed immediately after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing. Vaccinations Schools are recommended to stay up to date on vaccinations for students. All states have vaccination requirements for children attending school. Schools and health departments can promote routine and annual vaccinations by: Providing information about recommended vaccines to staff, students, and families Promote the safety and effectiveness of vaccines Establish supportive policies and practices that make getting vaccinated easy and convenient Make vaccinations available on-site by hosting school-located vaccination clinics or connect children, students, staff, and families to off-site locations More information on the CDC’s recommendations for preventing the spread of respiratory viruses can be found on its website.
August 11, 2025 August Is National Immunization Month National Immunization Month is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Learn More Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages parents to ensure that their children’s immunizations are up-to-date as part of back-to-school preparations. According to recent CDC vaccination numbers, a large majority of children – between 80% and 92% – were vaccinated for routine immunizations, such as polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, and other diseases. However, just less than 50% were vaccinated for the flu as of late April, while only 13% of children were up-to-date with the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. In Pennsylvania, the Department of Health requested that all licensed child care providers complete the Annual Child Care Immunization Survey by Friday, Sept. 19 to meet state reporting requirements. Resources Below is a list of resources for educators and parents, including information on vaccines, immunization schedules, and answers to frequently-asked questions: American Academy of Pediatrics – Healthychildren.org Immunization Page CDC easy-to-read immunization schedules CDC’s vaccine website for parents Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program: Information
April 9, 2025 Small Business Administration Ends Hardship Plan for COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loans As of March 19, the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) has ended its Hardship Accommodation Plan (HAP) for COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL). Those seeking the one-time-only option will need to provide a written explanation of a temporary financial hardship. For more information, contact the SBA COVID EIDL Customer Service Center by email at CovidEIDLServicing@sba.gov or by phone at 1-833-853-5638. Learn More The program allowed EIDL holders to pay just 10 percent of their typical monthly payment – for example, a monthly loan of $10,000 would only be $1,000 – to provide near-term financial relief. The aim of the program was to help small businesses amid the pandemic’s financial challenges. A 2023 survey conducted by CIVITAS in partnership with NAFCC found that 51% of surveyed family care providers had an EIDL. A blog post on CIVITAS Strategies’ website noted that the SBA had sent an email about a new, one-time-only six-month payment assistance option for certain borrowers. Eligibility criteria for that option includes: Never having enrolled in HAP Being less than 120 days past due Not being in charged-off status The CIVITAS Strategies blog post noted that this option could not be confirmed on the SBA website.
October 8, 2024 CDC Recommends Children and Adults Get Vaccinated for Flu Season The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that everyone over the age of 6 years get an updated flu vaccine. Learn More All U.S. flu vaccines for the 2024-25 season are trivalent – which means three component – vaccines that prevent against three influenza viruses: A(H1N1) virus A(H3N2) virus B/Victoria virus The CD also recommends that everyone, ages 6 and above, get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine helps to protect against severe disease, hospitalization, and death. The FDA recently approved and authorized the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine. Every U.S. household is now eligible to order four free at-home tests.
September 30, 2024 Tips from the CDC on Preventing Respiratory Virus Spread in Schools The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a list earlier this year of everyday actions that schools can undertake to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. Learn More With the 2024-25 school year underway, the likelihood of viruses, from COVID-19 to the common cold and respiratory viruses, spreading among students at school is on the rise. The CDC has provided guidance on how students can stay healthy by minimizing the spread of infections in school. Infections often spread because of shared objects, close contact with others, students playing closely together, a lack of cleaning and disinfection routines and supplies, and lack of proper ventilation. The CDC recommends that schools emphasize: Take steps for cleaner air Cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting Hand washing Respiratory etiquette Vaccinations Cleaner Air The CDC suggests improving air quality by improving ventilation in buildings or moving gatherings outside. Strategies to provide cleaner air include: Ensuring existing HVAC systems are providing the minimum outdoor air ventilation requirement in accordance with ventilation design codes Considering ventilation design and/or enhancements when remodeling or constructing new buildings to optimize clean air Opening windows to increase ventilation, as long as this does not create a safety hazard Using portable air cleaners in spaces with low ventilation Holding some activities outside, such as lunch, certain classes, or recess Keeping bus windows open when it does not create a safety hazard Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting Schools should put into place procedures for routinely cleaning and sanitizing surfaces and objects that are touched often – such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles, phones, and toys. Surfaces that are visibly soiled with blood or other bodily fluids should be immediately cleaned. Schools should consult with their state or local health department to determine how to clean and disinfect particular infectious diseases when new pathogens emerge. Hand Washing Teaching and reinforcing proper handwashing can lower the risk of spreading illnesses. Schools should set routines or scheduled opportunities for handwashing throughout the day. Schools should also provide adequate handwashing supplies – soap, water, and power towels – within easy reach of users. If soap and water are not available, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol can be provided. Respiratory Etiquette Schools should teach and reinforce respiratory etiquette to keep individuals from getting and spreading respiratory viruses, such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19. Teachers should reinforce covering the mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throwing the used tissue in the trash after use. If a tissue is not available, students and staff should be reminded to sneeze into the elbow, not the hands. Handwashing should be performed immediately after blowing the nose, coughing, or sneezing. Vaccinations Schools are recommended to stay up to date on vaccinations for students. All states have vaccination requirements for children attending school. Schools and health departments can promote routine and annual vaccinations by: Providing information about recommended vaccines to staff, students, and families Promote the safety and effectiveness of vaccines Establish supportive policies and practices that make getting vaccinated easy and convenient Make vaccinations available on-site by hosting school-located vaccination clinics or connect children, students, staff, and families to off-site locations More information on the CDC’s recommendations for preventing the spread of respiratory viruses can be found on its website.
June 25, 2024 Afterschool Alliance and NAA Partner for Afterschool Workforce Initiative The Afterschool Alliance and the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) have announced a strategic partnership aimed at fostering a skilled and stable workforce within the afterschool and summer field to ensure increased access to quality programming for children and youth. Learn More The collaboration between the two organizations comes at a time when the nation is coping with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and programs are experiencing staffing shortages while students’ needs are continuing to grow. This is the first time that the two organizations are formally collaborating by combining NAA’s leadership on professional development with the Afterschool Alliance’s policy and advocacy expertise. The needs prompting this collaboration include: Staffing shortages and the ability to recruit staff have been challenges for program providers. More than eight in 10 report concerns in surveys conducted between 2021 and 2023. Program provider surveys in the past three years have found a majority of programs reporting difficulties hiring or retaining staff. The most recent survey in 2023 found that 57% of providers reported this to be the case. Resources that the two organizations have been told would be most helpful for programs include advice on staff burnout and keeping teams engaged. “Research and the lived experience of our workforce shows that skilled and knowledgeable program staff are critical to desired youth outcomes, and our initiative strives to provide research, resources, standards, and best practices to strengthen the workforce,” said NAA CEO Gina Warner. Planned Initiatives The new partnership officially began in March. Activities planned as part of the initiative include: NAA hosted the third annual Workforce Summit as part of the 2024 NAA Convention. NAA began circulating draft national OST Job Quality Standards, set for release on June 25. The Afterschool Alliance and NAA, along with various partners, released a searchable online database featuring promising national, state, and local strategies to address workforce challenges. The Afterschool Alliance and NAA convened afterschool and summer advocates to share resources and strategize at the Alliance’s 23rd annual Afterschool for All Challenge. For more information on the initiative, visit the NAA’s website. About Afterschool Alliance The Afterschool Alliance is the leading national voice for afterschool and summer enrichment programs and the young people and families who depend on these programs to keep youth safe, support working families, and offer enriching learning opportunities. The NAA focuses on supporting, developing, and advocating for those who work with and for youth in out-of-school time.
May 22, 2024 Toolkit Aims to Educate Early Care Education Providers on Vaccinations The Public Health Foundation (PHF) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed a toolkit for early care and education providers to help families keep their children up-to-date on routine vaccinations. Learn More In many early care and education settings, up-to-date immunization is a prerequisite for enrollment. Therefore, early care and education providers and other childcare professionals play important roles in supporting routine vaccinations. This helps to prevent the spread of diseases among children, families, and communities. Early child care programs are instrumental in helping families stay up-to-date on their children’s vaccinations before school starts. Providers engage and assist families in ensuring that their children are fully immunized with all vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) – including the flu, COVID-19, and measles. More Details The PHF and CDC’s toolkit is part of a series being developed for the CDC’s broader Let’s RISE (Routine Immunizations on Schedule for Everyone) playbook. It has been curated to support early care and education providers across a number of settings. These include center-based child care and family child care as well as Head Start, or other early learning, early intervention, and preschool/pre-kindergarten programs offered in schools, homes, or other settings. The toolkit contains evidence-based strategies, tools, and resources that can be used to help families protect their children against diseases by getting them vaccinated. The toolkit incorporates input from the Administration for Children and Families; National Center on Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety; National Association of County and City Health Officials; Pennsylvania State University Extension – Better Kid Care; and Child Care Aware of America. For more information, view the Public Health Foundation’s toolkit or email gtaylor@phf.org.
May 11, 2023 OCDEL Ends COVID-19 Reporting Requirement for Child Care Providers The Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) will end its requirement for child care providers to report cases of COVID-19 on May 11, 2023. About the COVID-19 Reporting Requirement Shortly after the start of the federal Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 (PHE), OCDEL issued a mandate requiring all licensed child care operators to submit information on children and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 on the Licensed Facility COVID Data Collection Tool. OCDEL will end this reporting requirement and close the portal on May 11, 2023 to align with the end of the PHE. However, OCDEL will continue to require child care operators and facility persons to share any reportable, communicable diseases present in their facilities with the Department of Health (DOH). Sharing Reportable Communicable Diseases A list of reportable diseases is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) website. Child care providers must share all cases of reportable, communicable diseases with the DOH at 1-877-PA-HEALTH or 1-877-724-3258. They may also contact their local health department: Allegheny County Health: 412-687-2243 Bucks County Department of Health: 800-383-0371 Chester County Health Department: 610-344-6225 Erie County Department of Health: 814-451-6700 Montgomery County Health Department: 610-631-3000 Philadelphia Department of Public Health: 800-722-7112 Allentown Bureau of Health: 610-437-7760 Bethlehem Health Bureau: 610-865-7000 Wilkes-Barre City Health Department: 570-821-1111 York City Health Bureau: 717-849-2221 Learn More To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website. Additionally, interested individuals can attend the ELRC Region 5 Virtual Director Roundtables held each Tuesday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to get more information.
April 11, 2023 PA Department of Health Gauging Interest in Free Cleansing Device The Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) is currently evaluating air and surface cleaning devices and asking small businesses, nonprofits, child care providers, and similar organizations to express their interest in receiving such a device free of charge. About DOH Cleansing Devices These cleaning devices can eliminate viruses, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens from air and surfaces simultaneously. Free standing or wall-mounted, they utilize a standard outlet for power. If funding is approved, DOH will purchase and distribute the devices, and two years of operational supplies, to interested Pennsylvania businesses and organizations at no cost to them. Express Interest and Apply for a Device All individuals interested in receiving a device must complete an application. NOTE: Completing an application does not guarantee a device. At the moment, the application will only gauge interest in receiving a device. Should funding get approved, DOH will evaluate completed applications and award devices. DOH will award devices on a first come, first served basis, dependent upon: the amount of available funding, foot traffic at applicant facilities, square footage of applicant facilities, and COVID-19 risk. Additionally, DOH will prioritize applicants with facilities in underserved communities. Learn More To learn more, visit the Pennsylvania Key website.
October 10, 2022 Fall 2022 NAEYC Survey of the Field Available The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is conducting a new survey to gather current data from the field to inform federal and state actions on child care. (This article was updated on October 18 to reflect a new deadline). About the Survey From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, NAEYC has been surveying child care programs to convey the challenges they are facing across states and settings. Early childhood educators can answer the questions about how their programs are currently doing, regardless of what kind of child care program they work in or what role they have there. The survey will close on Sunday, October 23, 2022. Child Care Survey in English Child Care Survey in Spanish See results from past NAEYC surveys.
