The Department of Human Services (DHS) today released a Frequently Asked
Questions guide for families in need of child care and parents with
children that will be returning to a child care facility in counties
moving to the yellow or green phase of reopening. DHS has previously
issued guidance to child care providers in counties that have moved to
the yellow phase.
“As parents return to work and child care opens more broadly, there is
likely some anxiety about broadening their children’s social circles. We
want to be sure that we are providing the most up-to-date information
for families who need child care during this health crisis,” said DHS
Secretary Teresa Miller. “We know that essential workers and parents
whose offices are reopening still need to have a safe place for their
children to go while they are at work, and we are committed to helping
parents and reopening child care providers navigate this new normal.”
All child care facilities that reopen must closely follow CDC guidelines for child care centers.
Workers who need child care in yellow and green-phase areas can find
child care options here:
www.findchildcare.pa.gov. Child care facilities
in this phase are able to, at their discretion, open without a waiver.
Families who need assistance paying for child care can apply for Child
Care Works, Pennsylvania’s subsidized child care program at
www.compass.state.pa.us or by contacting the Early Learning Resource
Centers that serves their community at
www.raiseyourstar.org.
The Wolf Administration is supporting child care providers affected by
COVID-19 as they prepare to reopen or expand operations. Recently, a
first wave of $51 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic
Security (CARES) Act was announced to help child care providers as they
reopen. A second wave of this funding will be issued later in the
summer following completion of a study by OCDEL and Penn State
Harrisburg’s Institute of State and Regional Affairs examining the
effects of COVID-19 on child care providers.
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