Newsletter – August 2020
This may be one of the most memorable “Back to School” seasons we will ever know. Many schools and child care centers are making important decisions as to how this Fall will look in order to continue to provide educational opportunities and quality care. During our phone and in person consultations, we have heard and seen the frustrations both financially and emotionally you are experiencing trying to meet the demands put on you during this pandemic. We have also seen the physical exhaustion among the child care directors and owners who are trying to stay open oftentimes without appropriate supplies, staff, and funding to do so.
That is why we are asking the State to consider reapportioning COVID-19 emergency funds to help subsidize child care centers for these costs. This week we will be sending a letter to Governor Polis and all Colorado legislators letting them know the importance of appropriately supporting our Early Childhood Education industry. We understand the integral part you play in holding up our society and that, without you, our economy, and more importantly, the health and safety of our children are at stake.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for everything you do for the people of Colorado.
Yours in Health,
Molly Orlando
Co-Owner – Child Health Connection
We are advocating on your behalf!
Read our most recent letter to Governor Jared Polis:
https://childhealthconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Letter-to-State-Covid-Funding.pdf
Apply for a Child Care Sustainability Grant
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) of 2020 allocated supplemental funds to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) to support child care as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Executive Order D 2020 120, issued by Governor Polis, directed the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to access Child Care Development Funds made available through the CARES Act to establish and administer sustainability grants for open and operating licensed child care.
Base grant amounts will be based on licensed capacity, ranging from $1,000 – $3,000. Bonus grant amounts will be granted through a second round and may be available based on prioritized populations or areas of the state hardest hit by the impacts of COVID-19. In order to be considered for one of these grants, you must update your status and information on the Child Care Licensing Provider Status Portal. Click here to access the Provider Status Portal to provide us your operational status as well as detail around the prioritized populations you may be serving. LEARN MORE
“When should we send children or staff home, is it allergies, other illnesses, or COVID-19?”
This new document from Children’s Hospital is directed towards schools but may provide some clarity to help answer some of those questions. Remember to contact your local health department for a case by case determination as well:
Child Health Connection would like to share with you the following helpful resources to navigate through this time:
- Healthy Child Care Colorado – Health & Safety Checklist – What to plan for when you reopen your school: https://childhealthconnection.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Colorado-Health-and-Safety-Checklist-for-Child-Care-Centers-final.pdf
- American Academy of Pediatrics – Return to School During COVID-19 (HealthyChildren.org) – Returning to school during COVID-19: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Return-to-School-During-COVID-19.aspx
- CDPHE guidance – Case and outbreaks in child care and schools: https://covid19.colorado.gov/cases-and-outbreaks-child-care-schools
- Stay Up to Date on Immunizations – CDPHE flyer for parents:
