May 27th Updates
We know the situation surrounding COVID-19 is fluid and moving quickly. We know the state is in the process of starting phased-in re-opening. Today, we're checking in with a few updates.
DeLauro, Hayes Introduce Emergency Funding Bill
Today, U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes and several co-sponsors introduced a $50 billion emergency appropriation bill for child care. The funding would help keep the child care system whole through the end of the year.
As CLASP reported in late April, child care is key to the country's economic recovery. The organization estimates the child care industry will need $9.6 billion each month to fully-fund existing providers, to retain and pay staff, prepare to re-open, and offer safe, comprehensive emergency care at no cost to 6 million children of essential workers. The report can be found HERE.
Early Childhood Zoom Meetings
Since very early in the pandemic, the CT Early Childhood Alliance, CT Association for Human Services (CAHS), Middlesex Coalition for Children, and CSEA-SEIU have been hosting three times a week Zoom calls. If you are a child care provider or advocate who would like to join these meetings, you can register here - https://zoom.us/s/97259552075. The calls occur each Monday and Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Thursday evening meetings are primarily focused on family child care. If you'd like to check out some of the previous meetings and webinars, which were recorded, visit Middlesex Coalition for Children's page HERE.
Census Update
Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 U.S. Census continues, with deadlines that will extend into the fall (the self-response deadline is now October 31). We continue to urge people to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail, to limit the amount of face-to-face contact enumerators will have with the public. In Connecticut, 63.8% have self-responded to the Census (52.9% so far online). Nationally, more than half of the country has self-reported. How is your town or county doing in self-responding? You can check HERE. If you would like to look at the updated deadlines (as of May 8), you can click HERE. If you have contact with parents and community members, please continue to promote taking part in the Census. Reiterate that the Census is safe and information will not be shared. In 2010, 1 in 10 children were not counted. In Connecticut, for each individual who remains uncounted, the state loses about $3,000 per person each year, totaling approximately $30,000 between each Census conducted.
OEC to Host Friday, May 29 Webinar
Please join the OEC for an update from Commissioner Beth Bye on Friday, May 29, from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Commissioner Beth Bye will provide an update about the agency’s efforts to support child care in Connecticut during COVID-19. This webinar will be conducted in English and Spanish.
Below is the link to the webinar. If you would like to listen in Spanish, please be sure to indicate in your registration by clicking yes to that question. For those who would like to listen in Spanish, please look for a second invitation to the webinar. We will convene those requiring Spanish translation in a Microsoft Teams meeting. On the day of the webinar, those wishing to listen in Spanish can join the webinar via Microsoft Teams, or by phone.
Registration:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3603987317264805904
Child Care Webinar Hosted May 26 with Lt. Governor Bysiewicz
Tuesday, a webinar was hosted by Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and included OEC Commissioner Beth Bye, HOPE Child Development Center Executive Director Georgia Goldburn, and ABCD's Executive Director Monette Ferguson. The webinar was recorded and can be found HERE.
The Hartford Courant and CT NewsJunkie both covered the webinar.