As parents keep their kids home, child care businesses struggle to keep doors open

As parents keep their kids home, child care businesses struggle to keep doors open

During normal times, Tracy Carter’s DeSoto child care center, A Heart To Give, serves around 60 children, from infants to elementary students. Typically, Carter has a staff of 12 full-time and part-time employees to manage the bustle. But as the COVID-19 crisis has escalated in recent days, A Heart To Give’s enrollment has plummeted. Last […]

Colorado medical workers are getting free childcare. Should grocery store and food processing employees get the same benefit?

Colorado medical workers are getting free childcare. Should grocery store and food processing employees get the same benefit?

Advocates are calling for grocery stores and food processing workers to be eligible for the same emergency child care available to front-line medical workers. As schools and child care centers closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic, state officials and early childhood groups launched an emergency child care system for essential workers. They included medical workers, […]

Walker County orders childcare facilities, personal care services closed

Walker County orders childcare facilities, personal care services closed

A second emergency order issued by Walker County Commissioner Shannon Whitfield requires all non-home based childcare facilities, as defined by the state, and personal care services to close no later than 12:01 am ET on Monday, March 30, 2020. The order comes as many states and counties are using measures to prevent the spread of […]

Pandemic challenges child care providers, working parents

Pandemic challenges child care providers, working parents

Childcare providers and working parents have dealt with unprecedented conflicts the past couple of weeks with COVID-19 at the root of their challenges. Ironically, the pandemic has left some childcare providers serving fewer families while some families need childcare more than ever. “This time is frightening,” said Renee Wrolson, a Faribault childcare provider. She’s lost […]

How child care startups in the US are helping families cope with the COVID-19 crisis

How child care startups in the US are helping families cope with the COVID-19 crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of billions of people around the world. For many parents with young children in the United States, shelter-in-place orders implemented in different areas over the past few weeks mean they now spend each day balancing work with taking care of their families. For child care providers, a vital but often […]

Parents, teachers struggle as child care centers close in California

Parents, teachers struggle as child care centers close in California

Thousands of preschool and child care programs remain open across California even as the number of children attending continues to drop amid fears of spreading the coronavirus. That’s putting a strain on both businesses, which increasingly face closure, and parents, who struggle to take care of young children at home while also working. Jamie Sanbonmatsu […]

Advocates request millions in emergency funding to save state’s more than 7000 childcare programs

Advocates request millions in emergency funding to save state’s more than 7000 childcare programs

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Every industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and that includes childcare centers. Many are closed, and not collecting state subsidies or tuition from parents. So advocates are asking state lawmakers to include childcare in any potential stimulus package, allowing them to stay afloat through the crisis. There are more than 7,000 […]