Emergency Childcare Options for Community Health Center Employees

Here are some options for emergency child care to help HC employees who are struggling to find options with the school closures – suggestions from health centers

• Emergency child care assistance available for hospital, other workers
  Hospital staff and other essential workers can apply now for emergency child care assistance. The state issued guidance on the program to child care providers Wednesday and asked them to make application forms available at their facilities.
• Childcare 800 number from Childcare Services Association:
  If you are a parent who provides necessary services to, or cares for, members of our communities and your child care has fallen through or is unavailable because of COVID-19 closures, call 1-888-600-1685 to be connected with the right fit for you and your child.
• YMCA of the Triangle are offering YMCA Camp Hope – child care for essential personnel – through May 15 at the YMCAs and community locations throughout the Triangle and convenient to area hospitals.
• YMCA of WNC is offering emergency child care. Info available at https://ymcawnc.org/emergency-resources.
• Local Home School Co-Op’s
• A directive from the governor to offer emergency day care to healthcare workers has been issued.  Employees of the schools were informed that the schools would be used as emergency day care centers for healthcare professionals in the days/weeks to come.
• Some clinical staff who work 12 hour shifts generously offered to watch coworkers’ children on their days off.  Some have offered the services of their older children, who don’t need supervision, to babysit those that do need some supervision.  Non-essential staff who’ve been sent home have also offered to babysit

Texting Tool & Website Available to Access Food for Children
Parents who need food assistance for their children can text FOODNC to 877-877 to locate nearby free meal sites. The texting service is also available in Spanish by texting COMIDA to 877-877. Additionally, No Kid Hungry NC has created a map of local school sites, community organizations and food assistance programs across North Carolina where families can access food.