Week of January 4th Round-Up

Advocating to Include Child Care Professionals in Vaccine Plan

Last month, we sent a letter to Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud and continue to advocate to the state urging them give child care professionals priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Our partners at Ohio AEYC have released a video amplifying this message and sharing the strong case for ensuring early childhood educators have access to the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

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What to Expect with the Passage of the Recent Stimulus Package

Last month, Congress passed a new stimulus package including $10 billion in child care relief funding. While there are still decisions to be made and funding to be sent to the states, here is what we know thus far:

1. According to The Center for Law and Social Policy, Ohio is expected to receive $336,390,480 in funding for child care relief

2. By no later than February 25, 2021, the state must submit a report to federal government on how they plan to spend the funds allocated to them. The funds must be spent down by no later than October 31, 2022

We will continue to provide updates as details emerge regarding how the state plans to spend its share of the child care relief funding. For more details on the recent relief package, read First Five Years Fund's recent update.

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• Advocates for children petition Ohio governor

• Ohio unveils limited plan to pay relatives caring for kids

• Over 1 in 4 child-care providers nationwide still remain closed

• State Task Force to Address Persistent Racial Disparities in Infant Mortality

• Black, Latina and immigrant mothers are losing jobs as COVID-19 child care crisis grows

• How the pandemic is messing with kids’ mental health: Coping through COVID

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