Page 2 - Child Care Resource Center

A message from CCRC’s President and CEO
Dear Child Care Providers,
We’re now one full year into the pandemic, an anniversary marked with tragic deaths, job loss, and social distancing that’s kept us from embracing friends and loved
ones. Through these trying times, when many others protected themselves from the virus by isolating and working from home, you and our colleagues in the child care sector continued providing this essential service, allowing other components of our economy to continue. I’ve said it before but it’s still true today: you are heroes and the work you do caring for children is critical.
As I write this, vaccine appointments are now open to Child Care Providers across California. In Los Angeles County, where demand for vaccines are high and appointments are difficult to come by, CCRC worked with local health officials to designate 1,000 unique codes specifically for Child Care Providers to make appointments.
We will continue to work with the LA Department of Public Health and The Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles
to bring you additional access to vaccines as they become available. Broadening access to the vaccines, which have undergone clinical trials and rigorous testing, will lead to a safer environment for Child Care Providers and the families we serve.
Let me highlight one provider and the challenges she has faced during the pandemic. You might find yourself nodding along in agreement as you read about the financial hardships and COVID-19 exposure concerns Lona Aguirre has faced. I have known Lona for a long time and watched as she transitioned from being a Family Child Care Provider to owning her own center. Lona had just poured her life savings into a new facility and was facing the harrowing possibility of losing it all due to the additional costs associated with sanitization materials, limitations on the number of children in her care, and other expensive health and safety measures. With the support of Child Care Resource Center, her facility remains open and she says the stress of the constant changes related to the pandemic is manageable.
In the meantime, CCRC continues to provide support and supplies to Child Care Providers as part of our commitment to strengthening families in our community. A series of grants we’ve received allow us to reimburse providers for certain required trainings and to improve early learning and care by enhancing funding, quality, and availability of care to families most in need. Our government relations team is always fighting for you in Sacramento and we’re working closely with child care allies in the legislature to promote support and funding for the child care sector.
Financial help is on the way in the form of federal funding California received to help address the COVID-19 related impacts on families and Child Care Providers. At the end of February, Gov. Gavin Newsom authorized $402 million to support subsidized child care and State Preschool providers, including funds for essential workers needing a voucher and reimbursing providers for additional non-operational days for COVID-19 related closures. We anticipate that there will be additional good news for one-time COVID relief for Child Care Providers and parents in the May revise to the state budget.
Amid all the heartache caused by the pandemic, it’s had the unintended effect of showing families, legislators, and our communities the incredible strength and dedication of Child Care Providers. Through the ups and downs of this anxious rollercoaster ride, you’ve stepped up to make sure children received care and support. May is Child Care Appreciation Month and we look forward to thanking you for the invaluable work you do. You positively impact the future leaders of our world.
Sincerely,
Michael Olenick, PH.D.
President & CEO, Child Care Resource Center