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Governor Phil Scott announced on Friday that he is ending the closure of child care programs starting June 1st. This means that child care programs can open to families starting June 1st. Children of essential persons and children with a DCF safety plan that includes child care may be continued to be cared for by programs in May.
Programs can start to transition back to opening May 18th. This may mean having some staff return for training or set up of classrooms. Programs that were closed, may consider providing care for children of essential person and children with a DCF safety plan that includes child care previously enrolled to provide a slow transition back into your program.
Information in this email:
We know that many providers have questions on the health and safety guidelines that will be in place on June 1st. The Department of Health and CDD are working together to ensure the guidelines are provided as soon as possible.
Breena Holmes, M.D. the Director of Maternal Child Health at the Vermont Department of Health will be holding a webinar on Tuesday, May 12th at 3:30 PM to cover the health guidelines available at this point. To register - https://www.letsgrowkids.org/events/covid-19-guidance-for-child-care-services-with-breena-holmes-md-online-real-time-training-941
The Child Care Stabilization and Essential Persons Financial Support Programs will be ending Saturday, May 30th. Invoice submission deadlines will be provided at a later date.
The Child Care Financial Assistance Program will move from enrollment-based payments back to attendance-based payments starting 5/31/2020. This means as of 5/31 “U” codes will no longer be approved. For information about codes and how to submit for payment based on attendance please see: https://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/CDD/Docs/ccfap/Attendance_and_Invoices_Fact_Sheet.pdf
The Governor announced the availability of funds to help child care programs and school age programs/camps to open to families in June. More information will be available on eligibility for these funds later this week.
The Child Development Division in partnership with Building Bright Futures, Let’s Grow Kids, Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont Afterschool surveyed regulated child care, prekindergarten and afterschool programs on their needs to open child care programs after an extended closure related to COVID-19. The results of that survey are available here: https://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/CDD/Reports/Child-Care-Survey-Opening-Needs-Report-May-2020.pdf
The Child Development Division is working with the Vermont Department of Health, Building Bright Futures, Let’s Grow Kids, Vermont Agency of Education and Vermont Afterschool to develop resources based on the needs identified in the survey.
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