In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak and resulting closures and social distancing measures, child care providers around Boulder County have found themselves in a tough position.
“(This situation) has been a real challenge for child care centers, because they feel kind of caught in the middle,” said Matt Eldrid, the executive director of the TLC Learning Center in Longmont. “You know, where the governor is… shutting down schools, public facilities, restaurants, and yet, on the other hand, offering assistance for child care.”
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, after schools began to shut down in recent weeks, urged child care centers to remain open unless a child or staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
Boulder County has been getting together with licensed child care providers in the area to give them guidance and resources, answering questions on when they should close and what kinds of procedures they can use to stay cleanly and safe, according to Eldrid.
According to Danielle Butler, the executive director of the Early Childhood Council of Boulder County, 25-30% of child care providers have decided to temporarily close. The TLC Learning Center elected to close and conduct cleaning from Tuesday until Friday, before its regular spring break hiatus this upcoming week. The center is scheduled to open up March 30.
Butler also said that, even before the COVID-19 outbreak began wreaking havoc on Boulder County’s economy and residents’ daily lives, child care in the area was difficult to find.
“Working families with young children; providers (licensed child care in a center or home) or family, friend, neighbor care; and employers all work together to figure it out,” she wrote in an email. “During a pandemic, stress levels and information ambiguity due to the quickly changing situation compound the situation.”
The TLC Learning Center, Eldrid said, has seen a “huge need” recently as changes due to COVID-19 have taken place. Some child care centers, though, have either not seen a change, or seen a drop in demand.
Debbie Montante, owner and director of Smiling Faces Academy in Longmont, said that her business hasn’t changed hours and hasn’t seen an increase in people seeking child care.
The administrative assistant at Third Avenue Preschool, Chad Callaghan, said he and his co-workers have actually seen a reduction in the number of kids that need a place to go. A relatively small child care center, Third Avenue Preschool is still open and is currently only three-quarters full, according to Callaghan.
“People are staying home,” he said.
Callaghan added that Third Avenue Preschool has been diligent about cleaning and making sure kids are not coming in sick.
The YMCA of Northern Colorado, which recently opened a child care center for those working in essential positions in hospitals, grocery stores and elsewhere, has also not seen a flood of new people, according to CEO Chris Coker.
“But it’s interesting, in that we’ve been on calls with the state and other people that say, ‘OK, we’re about to unleash the flood on you,’” Coker said.
Coker said that the state will begin to coordinate child care for hospital workers and others, matching the need with providers.
“So I think next week the landscape is going to look a little bit different than this week,” he said.
Gov. Jared Polis announced this new effort, a public-private partnership dubbed the Colorado Emergency Child Care Collaborative, and launched a website earlier this week. Through this new collaborative, providers and educators are being asked to lend their services to help workers in critical sectors.
Right now, Coker said the YMCA of Northern Colorado is asking people to use discretion when applying. Anyone doing a job that serves a vital function or supports a vital function that cannot be done at home, he said, is welcome to apply for care there. For more information, visit bit.ly/2U6Omqf.
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March 22, 2020 at 01:03AM
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Child care centers caught in ‘tough position’ as need persists during coronavirus outbreak - Longmont Times-Call
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