Among the highest priorities for families with young children is the desire to keep their children safe from harm, healthy, happy and well. While many families are keeping their children at home right now, states are slowly starting to re-open. But is it safe for a child to be in a group early childhood setting? 

Yesterday, the House of Representatives unveiled their version of the latest round of stimulus relief: The HEROES Act. 

While we are happy to see some movement on relief for the American people coming out of Washington, this bill falls woefully short of where we need to be to ensure the survival of our child care system.

2020 Tornado Season 

COVID-19 has dominated the news in recent months. As a result, many people may not have heard that this spring’s severe weather season has already made 2020 the deadliest tornado year since 2012. Although it’s early in the season, the National Weather Service has confirmed 443 tornadoes across the country and many more have been reported. Southern states have been hit very hard, especially Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Louisiana.

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: