With most Americans still under shelter-in-place orders, it makes sense that parents everywhere are worried about the impact these orders will have on child care. However, while the experience of parenting during the pandemic can be challenging, in states where economies are reopening, we have to wonder about the safety and health of the children. How will this be ensured?

Congress has extended its recess for the safety of congressional representatives, but the urgency for finding a solution for dedicated child care funding has never been greater. We need as many people as possible to reach out and make phone calls and send messages to their members of Congress. Congressional staffers are still keeping track of outreach, so if you sent a message earlier this month, thank you. But your representatives need to hear from you in multiple ways this week to have the most impact as the next round of coronavirus relief starts to come together. First, place your phone call. Call your member of Congress now and let them know: We need $50B in dedicated Child Care funding.

So after you place your call, take the next step! Childcareaware.org has compiled a tool kit for helping you to advocate for child care right from home! (Click here: https://www.childcareaware.org/our-issues/advocacy/day-on-the-hill-advocacy-toolkit/)

Schedule a Meeting or Call with your Legislator in Five Easy Steps

1. Do you already have a contact in the offices of your Members of Congress? If so, skip to step 3. 

2. If not, identify your legislators and find contact information. 

3. Connect with the district office through a brief email or phone call—it is best to make your request in writing and follow up with a call within a few days. Ask to speak with the district’s scheduler or another staff lead on child care to set up the meeting. You can also visit your legislator’s website and use the “Request a Meeting” form available from most members.

4. Use the email starter language and phone script below to connect with staff in your congressional offices. If you can, try to tailor it to your community and communication style.

5. Do not be discouraged if you do not hear back right away. You may have to contact the congressional office a few times to get a response. Allow at least one business day in-between follow-up. 

If you are sending an email, it should contain the following:

1. Your name and address to show that you are a constituent, as well as your organization (if applicable).

2. The issues you wish to discuss – keep it brief.

3. The local office you wish to visit (if requesting a meeting).

4. The dates that you can meet. Include several dates or a wide time frame so that there is flexibility in scheduling the meeting.

NCCA has an example email layout on the homepage of our website (nccanet.org).

Now more than ever providers, early childhood educators, parents, businesses, etc. MUST be vocal about the situation that licensed child care is facing. Without your participation, there are not enough voices to change where we are headed. Thank you for helping “America Go Back To Work” and to fund child care! (Thank you to childcareaware.org and vox.com for info!) 

Healthcare is always a priority, but especially so during times like these. It is our privilege to announce this wonderful healthcare opportunity. As you know, the National Child Care Association has already added the benefit of access to healthcare coverage for you at a reduced cost. Now, at this crucial time, we are donating to our members, at no cost, remote healthcare for 100 individuals who are furloughed/unemployed employees, until we reach recovery.

If you are currently unemployed, simply follow these steps:
1. Access the RightNowSolution.care and
2. Click on the ENROLL NOW button for the Immediate Solution and at the end of the process they will
3. Supply the passcode: NCCA

By doing this, you’ll receive coverage for all the important stuff with zero co-pay:

Telemedicine
Feel better now! Get access to a registered physician 24/7, right from your desktop or mobile device. Telemedicine doctors can offer treatment options, refer you to specialists, and even order prescriptions.

Telemental
True wellness starts from within.  This Counseling program enables you to access a licensed counselor anytime, anywhere. Counselors can assist with everything from depression and anxiety to struggles with addiction.

HealthCare Advisor
Prosper’s Health Advocacy program provides a team of expert negotiators to support you from start to finish when you visit the hospital or emergency room. They’ll educate you on various procedures and assess medical bills.

Medical Bill Advocacy
A recent study showed that 60% of adults who asked their doctor for a discount, got it. Bill Saver works to reduce the amount you owe by as much as possible. This way, you can spend money on the things that matter–and not and not an overpriced X-ray.

In these difficult times, we are doing our part, and with your help and support together we can assist so many people. The Remote Healthcare Solution will take effect 1 week after sign-up. The Right Now Solution will take effect 2 weeks after sign-up. You can also expect to receive your coverage card to the home address you list during signup.

The National Child Care Association is here for you today and we will be here for you in the days to come. Is there anything we can do for you? Let us know! Give us a call at 877-537-NCCA (6222) or email us at admin@nccanet.org.WAYS WE CAN HELP!
TEMPLATE LETTER TO LEGISLATORSACT (Advocate for Child Care Today) NOW!
The National Child Care Association (NCCA) works diligently to advocate for our members and child care professionals but we NEED YOUR HELP! Now is the time to advocate for yourself by calling or emailing your legislators!

We’ve made this easy for you!

Simply visit: https://www.nccanet.org/ and find links to find the contact information of your legislators along with a sample letter to send them.UNEMPLOYED? FREE REMOTE HEALTHCARE!At a time when healthcare has never been more important, it is our honor to notify you of a healthcare coverage opportunity. As you know, the National Child Care Association has already added the benefit of access to healthcare coverage for you at a reduced cost. Now, at this crucial time, we are donating to our members, at no cost, remote healthcare for 100 individuals who are furloughed/unemployed employees, until we reach recovery.

The benefit includes Telemedicine, which provides remote medical consultation and will enable people to understand if they should get tested. This would facilitate a reductionin the number of unneeded tests, reduce the pressure on our hospitals, reduce exposure and much more. Telemental will help many who feel isolated and alone, those who are dealing with being sick, and those whom care for a sick person. HealthCare Advisor and Medical Billing Advocacy will help those who need treatment do so at the lowest negotiable costs. None of these offerings require a co-pay.

If your unemployed, simply:
1. Access the RightNowSolution.care and
2. Click on the ENROLL NOW button for the Immediate Solution and at the end of the process they will
3. Supply the passcode: NCCA

In these difficult times, we are doing our part, and with your help and support together we can assist so many people.

Even with the times being as unusual as they are, the Census must be taken seriously. This is a crucial time for all and the Census may prove to be more important now than ever to determine where future funds will be distributed.

The good news is that nearly half of the nation has already responded to the 2020 Census. If you have not already, please respond to the census as soon as you can (NOW!) by phone, paper, or online.  Even though field operation has been delayed, the key reference date for the 2020 Census — April 1, 2020 — did not change.  When responding to the Census, please note that you will be asked to include everyone who usually lives and sleeps in your home as of April 1, 2020.  

As a reminder, it has never been easier to self-respond to the census!   You can easily respond online at 2020census.gov using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.  A Census ID is not required to respond — you may click on the link that says “click here if you do not have a census ID” and enter your address.  Additional options include responding by calling 844-330-2020 or returning your paper form by mail.

In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the U.S. Census Bureau is adjusting 2020 Census operations in order to:

-Protect the health and safety of the American public and Census Bureau employees.
-Implement guidance from federal, state and local authorities.
-Ensure a complete and accurate count of all communities.

The Census Bureau temporarily suspended 2020 Census field data collection activities in March. Steps are already being taken to reactivate field offices beginning June 1, 2020, in preparation for the resumption of field data collection operations as quickly as possible following June 1.

In-person activities, including all interaction with the public, enumeration, office work and processing activities, will incorporate the most current guidance to promote the health and safety of staff and the public. This will include recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) and social distancing practices.

Once 2020 Census data collection is complete, the Census Bureau begins a lengthy, thorough and scientifically rigorous process to produce the apportionment counts, redistricting information and other statistical data products that help guide hundreds of billions of dollars in public and private sector spending per year.

In order to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau is seeking statutory relief from Congress of 120 additional calendar days to deliver final apportionment counts.

Under this plan, the Census Bureau would extend the window for field data collection and self-response to October 31, 2020, which will allow for apportionment counts to be delivered to the President by April 30, 2021, and redistricting data to be delivered to the states no later than July 31, 2021.

(Thank you to Michelle L. Elison with the U.S. Census Bureau for this information.)

ACT (Advocate for Child Care Today) NOW!
The National Child Care Association (NCCA) works diligently to advocate for our members and child care professionals but we NEED YOUR HELP! Now is the time to advocate for yourself by calling or emailing your legislators (links below)! Share with their office your story of how rough it is now with COVID-19 and what is needed for you to survive through this and long after it. 

NOW more than ever providers, early childhood educators, parents, businesses, etc. MUST be vocal about the situation that licensed child care is facing. Without your participation there are not enough voices to change where we are headed. Please use the letter provided below to contact those in control of your future.

There are 129,000 licensed child care centers and 115,000 licensed/registered homes that, on a normal day take care of 12M children. Congress comes back into session next week. Let’s light up their email and phones with a unified message. If you want and expect change you must ask for it NOW more than ever.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed our way of life for an indefinite period of time. Families and child care programs across the country are struggling with how to adjust to this new reality and what it means for parents and children, especially when this crisis ends.A number of national organizations are forecasting that many providers will remain closed after the COVID-19 crisis, leaving many parents without a child care center when they need to return to work.

ALL licensed child care providers, early childhood educators, parents, and business leaders must act now to prevent this. We need your help. Use the template below or create your own with a similar message for your personal story. MOST importantly, CONTACT your elected officials and tell them to support all licensed child care providers in the US so they survive this crisis and can help support the economic recovery. 

The National Child Care Association is advocating for you during this crisis. We are in regular contact with our advocacy partners/agencies in Washington, D.C. to let them know your perspective and your challenges. It is time for YOU to ACT and we are making advocating as easy as possible. Together, standing with our more than 129,000 licensed programs and 115,000 licensed/registered home child care settings serving over 12M children, we are seeking more support from government so parents will have their child care program of choice available when this crisis subsides and all Americans can return to work.

Our leaders in the US Legislature must hear from enough of YOU in a unified voice in order to be a priority to them. YOU are their constituent, the voter. Your voice and issues matter and this is a critical time in the world and in our industry.

Please use the template letter below to help tell your story. Adapt it as you wish and send it as an email to YOUR Legislators (NOTE: Use the links highlighted here to find your leaders).

US Representatives | Senators | Governors

You can copy the text in the letter and paste into your email. Be sure to enter in the bottom section all of your information such as name, name of business, business address and home address.You can also post your email on social media & tag your elected officials.—

Thank you to Christi Puesch, Executive Director of the Maryland State Child Care Association for providing us with this important information!

Dear (add your Governor and/or US Legislator’s name):

I am your constituent and I run a child care center in (add your city’s name). Like so many in our state right now, I am struggling, along with families and children, with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. I wanted to tell you my story and ask that you help ensure the child care providers of (add your state’s name) have the resources they need to remain in business until the crisis ends so we can care for the children and do our part in the economic recovery we all hope will be on the other side of this.

As I hope you will agree, child care is an essential function and serves as a backbone of our economy. Without it, too many parents would be kept from working and generating the economic activity to keep the stock market going and tax revenue flowing. We are a major employer, a very essential service provider that allows other businesses to flourish and we also educate, nurture and prepare our youngest children with foundations for next steps in life. We are also taxpayers and play and significant role in our communities.

Many businesses in my industry have also stepped up to do their part in this crisis, taking on health risks by keeping their doors open to provide care for the children of frontline health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers -we are serving while making it possible for all brave individuals to help serve (add your states name for their residents) during this critical time.

In best of times, child care programs like mine operate on razor thin margins and teeter on the edge of financial health. Many in our industry are in fact nonprofits. The federal and state programs announced to date are simply insufficient to help child care businesses. The federal Paycheck Protection Program in the CARES Act only provides eight weeks of payroll assistance, if providers are accepted and the money does not run out. It does not cover 100% of payroll costs, such as FICA, FUTA, and other taxes.

Federal SBA Economic Disaster Loans only provide help for payroll, rent, mortgages and utilities. Those loans will put my business deeper in debt, and does not cover all overhead, like insurance, food, supplies, taxes, and curriculum materials. Not all providers are even eligible.

Other states have recognized the critical role that child care plays in their states and have stepped up to institute plans which will reimburse child care providers for lost tuition due to this unprecedented event. We urge you to take similar action in (put your States name here). Without additional support, many child care businesses like mine will close and leave too many parents without child care when they need to get back to work.

Thank you for your leadership in this difficult time. Please help ensure child care for all families and help thousands of small businesses, such as mine stay afloat and continue to be viable after this crisis.

I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy.

Name
Business Name and Address Home Address

—

Thank you for helping “America Go Back To Work”!

Cindy Lehnhoff
Legislative Advocate & Executive Director, NCCA 

The economic stimulus package included much needed relief for businesses of all sizes. For small businesses specifically, the bill included a “Paycheck Protection Program” to provide small businesses with forgivable loans to keep their employees on the payroll and pay for everyday expenses, like rent and utility payments. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the Paycheck Protection Program, courtesy of the Senate Small Business Committee.

Q: When is the application deadline for the Paycheck Protection Program?

A: Applicants are eligible to apply for the PPP loan until June 30, 2020.

Q: Where can I apply for the Paycheck Protection Program?

A: You can apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) at any lending institution that is approved to participate in the program through the existing U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lending program and additional lenders approved by the Department of Treasury. This could be the bank you already use, or a bank or credit union near you. You do not have to visit any government institution to apply for the program. Just call your bank or find SBA-approved lenders at SBA.gov.

Q: Who is eligible for the loan?

A: You are eligible for a loan if you are a small business that employs 500 employees or fewer, or if your business is in an industry that has an employee-based size standard through SBA that is higher than 500 employees. In addition, if you are a restaurant, hotel, or a business that falls within the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 72, “Accommodation and Food Services”, and each of your locations has 500 employees or fewer, you are eligible. Tribal businesses, 501(c)(19) veteran organizations, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits, including religious organizations, will be eligible for the program. Independently owned franchises with under 500 employees, who are approved by SBA, are also eligible.

Q: I am an independent contractor or gig economy worker, am I eligible?

A: Yes. Sole proprietors, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and self-employed individuals are eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program.

Q: What is the maximum amount I can borrow?

A: The amount any small business is eligible to borrow is 2.5% of their average monthly payroll expenses, up to a total of $10 million. This amount is intended to cover 8 weeks of payroll expenses and any additional amounts for making payments towards debt obligations. This 8 week period may be applied to any time frame between February 15, 2020 and June 30, 2020. Seasonal business expenses will be measured using a 12-week period beginning February 15, 2019 or March 1, 2019, whichever the seasonal employer chooses.

Q: How can I use the money to ensure the loan will be forgiven?

A: The amount that may be forgiven is equal to the total expenses for payroll, and existing interest payments on mortgages, rent, payments, leases, and utility service agreements. Payroll costs include employee salaries (up to an annual rate of pay of $100,000), hourly wages and cash tips, paid sick or medical leave, and group health insurance premiums.

Q: When is the loan forgiven?

A: The loan is forgiven at the end of the 8-week period after you take out the loan. Borrowers will work with lenders to verify covered expenses and the proper amount of forgiveness.

Q: What is the covered period of the loan?

A: The covered period extends from February 15, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Borrowers can choose which 8 weeks they want to count towards the covered period, which can start as early as February 15, 2020.

Q: How much of my loan will be forgiven?

A: The purpose of the Paycheck Protection Program is to help you retain your employees, at their current base pay. If you keep all your employees, the portion of the loan used for payroll and other covered expenses will be forgiven. If you still lay off employees, the forgiveness will be reduced by the percent decrease in the number of employees. If your total payroll expenses on workers making less than $100,000 annually decreases by more than 25%, loan forgiveness will be reduced by the same amount. If you have already laid off some employees, you can still be forgiven for the full amount of your payroll cost if you rehire your employees by June 30, 2020.

SOURCE: Thank you to Congressman Michael Waltz for providing this material.

On Thursday, April 9, from 4:30-5:30 pm, we encourage you to catch the following webinar put on by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. You may register for “Paying Yourself, Your Staff, and Your Bills: Helping Child Care Programs Understand and Navigate SBA Loan Options” by following this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4128079429066587916 (English)

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8124410570873550094 (Spanish)

In addition to the $3.5 billion for CCDBG provided by Congress in the recent CARES Act, there are multiple options for child care programs across states and settings to get financial support to survive this crisis. Since these processes may be complex, this webinar from NAEYC is bringing together expertise from the banking, business, and child care industries with lessons from the first few days following the opening of the Paycheck Protection Program, in order to help you learn about how the different options work, which might be best for you, and what precise steps you have to take to apply for them.

The bulk of the webinar will focus on helping you understand and navigate through the SBA loan options, which we will do by having you hear from a banker; an expert who has worked at the SBA; and a child care provider who has been through the process already. In addition, how these options intersect with unemployment insurance will also be touched on.

(The webinar and above info provided by naeyc.org)

Additionally, don’t neglect to take advantage of the SBA loans immediately available to child care providers (First Five Years Fund). This includes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). PPP is a $349 billion program designed to help small businesses keep their workers on the payroll and stay afloat during the COVID crisis to avoid closing permanently. Loans provided through this program will be forgiven by the SBA if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and funds are used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. You may also hear this referred to as the “7(a)” program. More info can be found here: https://www.ffyf.org.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed our way of life for an indefinite period of time. Families, educators, and other practitioners across the country are struggling with how to adjust to this new reality and what it means for children. When it comes to education during these challenging circumstances, families need access to information and learning ideas, ways to understand the information, and ways to take action on it.

In this webinar, national organizations at the forefront of providing resources and tools that parents and practitioners need to navigate through this uncharted territory will share what they are currently providing and what is planned moving forward. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and share their own ideas and resources through our webinar chat feature. 

There is another webinar today, March 25 at 3 pm EST, “Engaging Families Through the Coronavirus Pandemic: National Organizations Share Their Plans,” https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_n_ZOgPB-QkCUu4EuHWfXsg. 

Help Us Protect Child Care Centers & Employees NOW!

TOMORROW, Monday, March 23 at 10am…please be sure to help us let your Senators and Congressman know that you support their vote for a $50B stimulus package to save child care centers from closing forever. 93% of all licensed childcare centers are small businesses that cannot sustain themselves through this crisis for more than 2-4 weeks. We recommend that all business leaders post this on social media encouraging your employees and supporters to join in.

Why does Congress need to #FundChildCare in the emergency stimulus package?

• To protect the health and safety of essential workers and their children

• To support small businesses

• To make sure child care programs exist in the recovery

• To prevent tens of thousands of workers from losing their jobs

• To keep the child care industry from collapsing.

• To help American families

• To stabilize an essential service

• To stimulate consumer spending

• To provide the quality care children and families need, now and in the future

On Monday, March 23 from 10:00 am ET, tell it to Congress.

Find your local representatives:

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

https://www.senate.gov/senators/index.htm

Join NAEYC, Child Care Aware of America, the Early Care and Education Consortium, ZERO TO THREE, and more, with thousands of your fellow educators, advocates, and allies for a #FundChildCare #ChildCareNow Twitter Storm.

Thank you!

Source: America for Early Ed

NCCA wanted to take a moment and salute you, the first responders of Early Care and Education. Many of our parents need your services in order to perform their essential responsibilities. Do what you can to take care of yourselves and your staff during this stressful and unprecedented time.

Knowing that each day brings different questions and challenges regarding COVID-19 we are pleased to refer you to Child Care Aware of America’s website at www.childcareaware.org. They are providing the latest information to help families, child care providers, and policymakers navigate this uncharted territory. At NCCA we have reviewed many resources and found this one to be the most comprehensive and best organized, allowing for quick references on a variety of topics regarding this matter.  

Of course, we are also available to assist you so please don’t hesitate to give us a call at 1-877-537-6222.

While we know you are very busy dealing with all of the demands in your day to day operation we want to be sure and draw your attention to the need to TAKE ACTION in telling Members of Congress to support the childcare and early learning system in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R.6201) . This is easily done on the www.childcareaware.org website under the heading TAKE ACTION. It is imperative that everyone RAISE THEIR VOICE to ensure that child care providers are protected from economic crisis and closure, and help provide continuity of care for children and families at this time. It literally just takes a few minutes to do this and you cannot afford to not do it. 

ACT NOW: Tell your Members of Congress to include dedicated support for child care in their COVID-19 response.

Sincerely,

Cindy Lehnhoff, Director of the National Child Care Association