Following is from the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood:
Hospital & Community Health Center (CHC)
Emergency Child Care Guidance for Hospital & CHC Human Resources Department
OEC will extend CT Cares for Workforce Development to include Hospitals and CHCs staff members who need temporary child care due to COVID-19 workforce demands. This will help staff who work at COVID testing sites and hospitals who need child care during the pandemic. Below is an outline of the steps for employees to access temporary child care at contracted licensed child care providers.
In order to determine the need for additional child care programming, hospital and CHC staff must first make every effort to:
- Utilize their current child care arrangement.
It is not recommended that families leave their current child care placement in order to access the temporary, no-cost child care options. - Call 211 to ask for assistance in finding child care.
Access to no-cost, high-quality child care is intended for families who do not have other options and are critical staff for their organizations. The program runs through Dec. 30, 2020 with the possibility of an extension if approved.
OEC has purchased more than 400 multi-age child care slots around the state that are reserved for Workforce Board trainees, and now for hospital and CHC staff.
Selected contacts at each participating Workforce Board, hospital and CHC will be surveying trainee and staff child care needs. This information will be provided to the project team, Kristen Saunders, Kristen.Saunders@ct.gov, or Julie Giaccone, jgiaccone@crec.org, so the team can ensure the number of slots and locations needed.
Designated contacts at participating Workforce Boards, hospitals and CHCs will be able to share with families, a listing of potential child care options. Then families will call 211 to select a child care program that hosts OEC contracted slots. Then the family will be directed to contact the child care provider directly to enroll. Children enrolling in child care programs will need to provide an updated physical.
Contact Information:
Kristen.Saunders@ct.gov
Jgiaccone@crec.org
For more information, contact: Robin Perregaux at perregaux@uchc.edu