Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies stepped up and supported child care providers within their service areas in assisting with supplies, personal protective equipment and many other needs of child care programs. One of the most common themes or needs identified by child care professionals was support for the social-emotional needs of children.

Each September, we commemorate National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Ready.gov has announced that this annual event’s theme for 2021 is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic inundated the child care system, Child Care Aware^® of America (CCAoA) received helpful funds from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to support and provide relief to Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) member organizations across the country. In the summer and fall of 2020, CCAoA used the funds to provide CCR&Rs with resources to meet pressing needs within their communities.  

Las agencias de recursos y referencias del cuidado infantil (CCR&R) y los proveedores se han puesto en contacto con Child Care Aware^® of America con preguntas sobre cómo asegurarse de que sus programas se limpien correctamente y estén listos cuando los programas de cuidado infantil se reabran.

Primero, es importante comprender la diferencia entre limpiar, sanitizar y desinfectar. En resumen, limpiar significa eliminar la suciedad o los gérmenes de una superficie; sanitizar se refiere a reducir la cantidad de patógenos o bacterias en esa superficie limpia; la desinfección mata todas las bacterias en superficies duras y no porosas. La distinción entre los tres puede parecer borrosa, por lo que hemos recopilado algunos de los enlaces más útiles de socios en salud pública para asegurarnos de que esté listo y preparado. 

It’s September! And as you may know, each September is recognized as National Preparedness Month. Preparedness Month promotes family and community disaster planning now, during the month, and throughout the year. 

Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) agencies and providers have contacted Child Care Aware® of America with questions about how to ensure their programs are properly cleaned and ready when child care programs reopen. 

First, it’s important to understand the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting. In short, cleaning means removing dirt or germs from a surface; sanitizing refers to reducing the number of pathogens or bacteria on that cleaned surface; disinfecting kills all bacteria on hard, non-porous surfaces. The distinction between the three can seem blurry, so we have gathered some of the most helpful links from partners in public health to ensure you are ready and prepared.