Coronavirus/COVID-19 Updates & Information

We are in unprecedented and uncertain times. The Alliance will share information as it becomes available from the CDC, Office of Early Childhood, and Governor Lamont's Office. Information is moving fast - we will keep the memos concise and offer as many resources as we have at our disposal.

The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) has been issuing memos (memos can be found HERE) since March 12 regarding the fast-moving situation. Child care centers are not being told to close at this time. Two new memos have been released from the OEC - Memo 6 and a memo regarding Birth to Three and Home Visiting. 

One of Governor Lamont's Executive Orders waives certain licensing and other requirements to maintain and increase availability of child care. The OEC has issued a new memo (Memo 7) to describe these waivers further.

Here is a Survey Monkey LINK from 2-1-1 Child Care to track child care opening/closure status during COVID-19. 

There is also a link available to a NAEYC survey regarding child care challenges, including financial hardships programs may be facing. This survey is gathering information to share with Congress, the media, and state policymakers. 

Tonight (3/16) at 6:45 p.m., CSEA-SEIU and All Our Kin will be hosting a phone call primarily for family child care providers in regards to Care4Kids payments, but OEC Commissioner Beth Bye will join for a Q&A. The call is at 6:45 p.m. and YOU will receive a call at that time to join the call. The link to register is HERE.  

Finally, the White House is now recommending that people avoid gathering in groups of more than ten people. 

Bills Update

The following have reported out of committee

HB 5220 An Act Expanding Care4Kids to Parents Participating in Even Start or in Certain Secondary Education Programs 

HB 5222 An Act Expanding Eligibility in the Care4Kids Program for Homeless Families

HB5213 An Act Concerning the Creation of a Pilot Program for an Early Childhood Business Incubator Model

HB5121 An Act Concerning Certain Protections for Group and Family Child Care Homes

SB282 An Act Establishing a Tax Credit for Employers That Make Payments Toward Child Care Costs of Employees

HB5336 An Act Requiring Background Checks for Certain Employees of Licensed Youth Camps

SB87 An Act Concerning Eligibility for the Office of Early Childhood’s Child Care Subsidy Program for Victims of Domestic Violence

SB227 Act Concerning a Fair Work Week Schedule

We are also concerned about:

HB5439 (section 4) which would change the elementary education certificate back to K-6 and thus making the Early Education preK – 3 cert much less attractive to prospective teachers

Here is a list of bills to be heard on Friday, March 6, before the Education Committee in Room 1E (10 a.m. start, but we anticipate afternoon testimony). Several of the bills listed below have fact sheets associated with them.

Written testimony should be sent to [email protected] by 3pm on Thursday.  If you would like to testify in person on Friday, it probably won't be until the afternoon or evening.  If you would like us to sign you up to testify in person, email Merrrill at [email protected]. The following early childhood bills will be heard on Friday.

H.B. No. 5218 (RAISED) AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD.

H.B. No. 5216 (RAISED) AN ACT ELIMINATING THE LICENSURE EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING CHILD CARE SERVICES.

H.B. No. 5220 (RAISED) AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY IN THE CARE4KIDS PROGRAM TO PARENTS PARTICIPATING IN AN EVEN START PROGRAM OR ENROLLED IN CERTAIN SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS. FACT SHEET

H.B. No. 5222 (RAISED) AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY IN THE CARE4KIDS PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES. FACT SHEET

H.B. No. 5379 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION OF SLOTS FOR STATE-FUNDED CHILD CARE CENTERS.

H.B. No. 5213 (RAISED) AN ACT CONCERNING THE CREATION OF A PILOT PROGRAM FOR AN EARLY CHILDHOOD BUSINESS INCUBATOR MODEL. INCUBATOR FACT SHEET

If you'd like us to sign you up to testify on Friday or would like more information on how to testify, email Merrill at [email protected]