The Ohio Department of Family Jobs and Services (ODJFS) will grant licenses for pandemic child care to families where parents work in the health, safety and essential service fields.
ODFJS will issue temporary pandemic child care licenses to ensure communities have access to child care. Pandemic child care center licenses can be granted to already existing child care centers or new child care centers that may be created in response to community needs.
The move comes on the heels of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine addressing the need for reliable healthcare for those working in the fields that must continue to work through the pandemic.
“It is important that professionals who are essential to protecting the public are able to ensure their families have safe places to go while they are at work,” said DeWine. “Helping to address this need allows our health and safety providers to focus on protecting and caring for all Ohioans.”
A previous executive order issued increased the number of children able to be supervised by child care staff, depending on the type of program and ages of children being served. It also increased the number of paid absent days for providers serving children in the Publicly Funded Child Care program to 20 and provides child care programs with 21 paid days if they’re forced to close the programs because of the pandemic.
“Health care workers, first responders, and those working so hard to provide Ohioans with essential services are needed now more than ever. These measures will ensure that these families can maintain their work schedules, while resting assured that their children are safe,” said ODJFS Director Kim Hall. “These measures will be in force for the duration of the pandemic.”
Day care centers can apply for a temporary pandemic childcare license here.
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