In this new world of COVID-19, everyone is trying to kill germs and avoid sickness. However, our fears should not distract us from the mindful use of cleaning chemicals, including hand sanitizer. Even chemicals that are meant to keep us healthy can cause poisoning or even death when used improperly, especially around children. 

Child Care Aware^® of America (CCAoA) understands that this is an uncertain time for child care providers, as they make difficult decisions about what's best for their business and the families and community they serve. This is also an uncertain time for families as they make decisions about child care. The safety and well-being of staff, family members and children is of utmost importance.   

This week, Child Care Aware^® of America and the Save the Children Action Network released the results of a nationwide survey that confirms for us what we’ve known since this crisis began:

La propagación del Coronavirus (COVID-19) ha tenido un impacto inmediato en un pilar crítico de los Estados Unidos – los programas de cuidado infantil. Muchos programas están lidiando con preguntas sobre si deberían mantener sus puertas abiertas a las familias y, si lo hacen, qué deberían considerar para asegurar la salud y seguridad de los niños y las familias. Algunos programas pueden enfrentar un mandato estatal para cerrar temporalmente sus puertas al público. Otros pueden contemplar ofrecer cuidado infantil de emergencia en su comunidad para las familias que tienen trabajos clasificados como esenciales.

National Tell a Story Day is Monday, April 27^th. Help Child Care Aware^® of America (CCAoA) encourage families to share the joy and value of telling stories to their children. People have been sharing stories to communicate information and connect with others for thousands of years through visual drawings, word of mouth and written words. 

Together, let’s celebrate child care providers on National Provider Appreciation Day^® — Friday, May 8, 2020. Whether you are part of a Child Care Resource and Referral agency (CCR&R), a business, a non-profit organization or a family who has relied on a child care provider, you recognize the important role providers have in caring for our nation’s children. They nurture and educate our youngest citizens while supporting parents who want or need to be part of our nation’s workforce.

Honoring child care providers will take on a more profound meaning for many this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Child care programs have been faced with many challenges: making difficult decisions about whether to close their doors or remain open to provide emergency care for essential workers, dealing with financial uncertainty, keeping informed on rapidly changing protocols, navigating financial relief programs and much more. Despite the challenges, child care providers continue to take steps to do what is best for children and families. Providers are among this country’s unsung heroes.