As Child Health Month comes to a close, Child Care Aware^® of America (CCAoA) continues to promote and support early childhood health and health outcomes for the child care community. Child obesity remains a large problem which threatens the future health of children as they grow to adulthood. Child care providers are also a high risk population when it comes to health outcomes. Providers earn low wages and the majority of providers are women of color – characteristics often associated with poor access to care. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought forth new focus on the impact of inequity on health outcomes.

Despite the fact that the child care workforce may be at greater risk of chronic disease, there is a need for increased focus on their health, especially during this time. Enhanced and deliberate attention is essential to the physical and emotional wellness of young children and their child care providers given the long-term health impact for these populations.

Momentum in support of child care relief continues to grow in Congress. Last week, the House of Representatives passed an updated version of the HEROES Act, which includes $57 billion in emergency funding for child care – $50 billion for child care stabilization grants and $7 billion in emergency funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program (CCDBG).  

This season, getting an Influenza(flu) vaccine is essential in protecting the health of children, their families, and child care providers. Flu is a contagious respiratory illness that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. Although there are some  exceptions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone six months or older should get a flu vaccine annually. Flu is most common during the fall and winter. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a flu vaccine is more important than ever.  

This fall, as schools make difficult decisions about when and how to reopen during the pandemic, families also face tough choices. Parents across the country are struggling to balance holding down a job or pursuing their own education with attending to their children’s health, education, safety and social connections.

Influenza (Flu) season is upon us and getting a flu vaccine, especially during 2020-2021, is more important than ever. Flu is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses and infects the nose, throat and in some cases, the lungs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends annual flu vaccines for anyone 6 months and older. Flu vaccines are the best way to prevent flu and it is especially important for child care providers who care for young children as vaccination can reduce the spread of flu. During the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccines are critical to reducing the overall impact of respiratory illnesses and reducing the burden on the health care system.  

On September 24, we released our fall report Picking Up the Pieces: Building a Better Child Care System Post COVID-19. Alongside this report, we feature an interactive website that includes videos, infographics and a map where you can get data for each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. You can also access a PDF version of the report in English or Spanish and our annual Appendices that analyze child care prices in 2019.