March 25, 2020
COVID-19 Updates
DHHS Updates
This message is being sent as a courtesy to our collaborative partner, the Department of Health and Human Services.
Dear Colleagues,
 
On behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, I invite you to join Dr. Benjamin Chan, state epidemiologist, and Beth Daly, Administrator for the Bureau of Disease Control, on Wednesday March 25 at 5:15 pm on a call to address some of your most frequently asked questions about operating a child care program safely and what you can do to provide safe care.
 
Topic: Public Health Support for Child Care Community
Date: March 25, 2020
Time: 5:15 to 6:15 PM 
 
Zoom Meeting: join by computer (best) or by phone
 
Thank you for your partnership and we hope you, your families, your staff, and the children and families you serve are well.

Melissa Clement
CCAoNH Updates
Child Care Aware of NH powered by Southern New Hampshire services has been charged with collecting information on the pulse of early childhood and afterschool programs. We are looking for the status of programs being opened, closed, reopening and the number of vacancies available. Additionally, we are asking to be informed of the willingness of early childhood and afterschool programs to accommodate essential emergency personnel's children.

As you are aware, Child Care Aware of NH has been making phone calls, sent out a Preliminary Assessment Survey and an COVID-19 Early Childhood and Afterschool Urgent Needs Survey . Please continue to keep us abreast of any changes in your programming by calling:

Emergency Child Care Lines :
  • (603) 578-1386 ext. 33
  • (603) 578-1386 ext. 28
  • email: ccrr@snhs.org (Use subject line: emergency child care)

To that end, during the COVID-19 pandemic, CCAoNH is collecting names of current early childhood and afterschool providers who want to provide child care, whether in a program or in their home, temporarily to assist families during this crisis. To assist with this, we have created two new web pages to gather information:
  1. Form: Early Childhood and Afterschool Providers Seeking Temporary Employment in Child Care
  2. List: Current Early Childhood and Afterschool Providers Available for Temporary Emergency Child Care

If you are interested in seeking temporary employment and are a qualified early childhood or afterschool provider, please visit the Form:Early Childhood and Afterschool Providers Seeking Temporary Employment in Child Care web page. Fill out the form and your information will be added to a list for programs and families in need of temporary child care staff during this pandemic.

In turn, if you need staff to keep your program open for families during COVID-19, please visit the List: Current Early Childhood and Afterschool Providers Available for Temporary Emergency Child Care page to search for temporary employees to help through this crisis.

Both pages can be found on the Child Care Aware of NH website, nh.childcareaware.org under the Covid-19 Tab. Please note that Child Care Aware of NH may be calling individuals interested for more information and referral purposes.

If a person's qualifications do not meet licensing regulations, the individual or the program can reach out to Child Care Licensing at  ccluoffice@dhhs.nh.gov  for possible approval during this State of Emergency. Please include their name, any coursework and experience working with children when making your request.

CCAoNH wants to recognize the important work you are doing. Having available child care is imperative for essential workers with families. Thank you for your hard work, dedication and ability to unite during these trying times. We applaud your efforts, while we recognize and support the tough decision you have had to make these past weeks. CCAoNH appreciates all you do and have done for children and families in NH.
Child Care Aware of NH is a statewide Child Care Resource and Referral Program powered by Southern New Hampshire Services. The preparation of this email was financed under a Contract with the State of New Hampshire, Department of Health and Human Services, Division for Economic Housing Stability, Bureau of Child Development and Head Start Collaboration with funds provided in part by the State of New Hampshire and the US Department of Health and Human Services.