This is a page the CT Early Childhood Alliance has designated for information related to the COVID-19 outbreak. We will share resources here. We know this is a very trying and confusing time. We hope you are safe and staying healthy. We will get through this together.
Tri-Weekly Zoom Calls
CT Early Childhood Alliance, CT Association for Human Services (CAHS), Middlesex Coalition for Children and CSEA-SEIU are hosting tri-weekly Zoom calls Monday & Wednesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (the evening call is more focused on family child care). The Zoom registration link is https://zoom.us/s/97259552075
RESOURCES:
State of Connecticut - Updates related to the entire state, as well as Governor Lamont's Emergency Orders, can be found on the State of Connecticut portal. https://portal.ct.gov/Coronavirus
CT Office of Early Childhood - Timely memos on directives coming from the state regarding child care. They can be found on the OEC website. https://www.ctoec.org/covid-19/
DCF - Department of Children & Families asks if you have questions regarding COVID-19 and Connecticut DCF, please email [email protected]
Middlesex Coalition for Children - One of our member organizations has been keeping meticulous updates regarding the outbreak and its impact on the early childhood community. Many of the Zoom calls with the CT Early Childhood Alliance can be found on this page. The updates can be found here http://www.middlesexchildren.org/post/covid-19-advocacy-documents-including-webinar-recordings-questions-and-files
ZERO TO THREE - In the past few weeks, Congress has passed two major funding packages to begin to address the spreading health, economic, and social impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA; P.L. 116-127) was signed into law on March 18, 2020 and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES; P.L. 116-136) was signed by the President on March 27, 2020. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Chair of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, recently joined ZERO TO THREE and Think Babies™ partners to discuss the new laws and next steps in Congress to support families. To listen to Rosa's recent ZOOM call with Zero to Three - https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3293-covid-19-pandemic-a-conversation-with-rep-rosa-delauro The legislative summary can be found here - https://www.thinkbabies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/COVID-19-How-is-Congress-Addressing-the-Needs-of-Babies-and-Families.pdf and responses to Frequently Asked Questions from Rosa's webcast can be found HERE.
NAEYC - National Association for the Education of Young Children has a survey available to further understand the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on child care programs and providers. Some child care providers may have completed a survey through NAEYC early on in the crisis. This is a new survey. The new survey can be found here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PandemicEffects
UNEMPLOYMENT:
To make sure you are receiving the most reliable information regarding unemployment claims, CT Department of Labor has created a video to help you navigate the process. The YouTube video can be access HERE or by clicking on the graphic below (it will also take you to YouTube).
Payment Protection Program (PPP)
UPDATE: The PPP is currently out of money (as of April 16). Congress is working to allocate more funding, but it MUST include safeguards to make sure smaller businesses can access it.
Here's the definitive US Treasury Dept info on the Paycheck Protection Program forgivable loans https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/top-priorities/cares-act/assistance-for-small-businesses
This SBA "Frequently Asked Questions" memo is also helpful.
As you may have heard on the news or seen on your bank's website, this hasn't been a smooth roll out. Final rules weren't released until the night before the launch and that left banks scrambling to get their systems in place. The application form is pretty straightforward, but for people trying to fill out an application for the first time it's always a bit daunting.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE AVAILABLE FUNDS WILL GO VERY QUICKLY.