Friends and colleagues,

We hope you are all staying healthy at this time of crisis.

Yesterday, Governor Charlie Baker announced that child care programs in Massachusetts will close on Monday, March 23, 2020.

However, Exempt Emergency Child Care Programs will be available regionally to provide care for emergency workers and others. Check the Department of Early Education and Care’s website for guidance documents.

The governor also said that, “Child care providers would continue to receive child care subsidy payments from the state in order to ensure that the programs will be able to reopen once the crisis is over.”

Strategies for Children has been working with the early education and care community to collect and share programs’ urgent needs and to consider advocacy strategies for supporting early education and care providers right now — with an eye on the potential long-term effects of the coronavirus.

If you are an early educator or program director please complete this online form to let us know your short- and long-term needs. If you would like more information, reply to this email or contact Amy O’Leary at aoleary@strategiesforchildren.org.

Here are additional links and resources:

• Massachusetts updates: Mass.gov coronavirus webpage

• Department of Early Education and Care website and Twitter account

• NAEYC statement: Child Care is Essential and Needs Emergency Support to Survive

• Federal advocacy: Call your House and Senate Offices to make the case for significant investments in child care that can support all families (subsidy and private pay) and to ensure that child care providers (center and family child care businesses and employees) are included in all other support efforts, including unemployment insurance, paid leave, mortgage/rent supports, etc.

• Additional resources: Zero to Three has tips for how to talk to children about the virus. Child Care Aware of America is committed to providing news and the latest information to help prepare families, child care providers and policymakers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has posted a wide range of virus information. The CDC also has a list of frequently asked questions about the virus and children. And here’s the CDC’s guidance for workplaces, schools, and homes. EEC has posted learning activities and resources for families who are home with children.

Take good care.

– Amy and Titus