Commitment to Working Parents, First Responders, Healthcare and Government Workers

Although the public schools in Colorado are closed and many parents are unable to work, there remains a large number of people that continue working, either at their jobs or remotely, and for them the continuation of available and affordable child care and early education remains a reality and a necessity.  OVCA was founded because it takes a village and now more than ever it is essential for Our Village to respond to the needs of our community.

We recognize that we have a duty to children, parents and staff.  Moreover, we recognize that our duty is not only to protect but also to serve all affected persons.  As a Public Benefit Company (PBC) we recognize that our internal obligations also extent to the larger community.  In addition to the children currently enrolled we are particularly sensitive to the community childcare needs of First Responders, Healthcare and Government Workers that need care for their children.  At OVC it is much more than simply providing care, it is also about education and we recognize the long-term implications for disrupting a child’s early education especially at their most critical ages.

Our “Remain Open” Decision

Our board engaged in a thorough evaluation and discussion of our various obligations and a review of all relevant medical information and governmental guidance.  Key among these was Governor Polis’ March 11^th Executive Order, the school and child care closure guidelines and fact sheet we received from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (DPHE), as well as CDPHE guidance on cleaning and sanitizing.

It was with this in mind that on March 13^th our board made the following very difficult decisions:

1. Although we will continue to monitor the situation closely, unless mandated by government officials we have no intention to close or curtail quality services for our children and parents;
2. We will continue to follow all guidance from the CDPHE but will go beyond that and continue to implement higher best practices standards for safety and hygiene that may be recommended by other public health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Health and other organizations.

Our decision not to close is consistent with a notice received two days later from the Colorado Office of Early Education (COEE) which stated:

“As of Sunday, March 15 at 5 p.m., CDPHE continues to recommend that childcare providers remain open unless they have a confirmed case of COVID-19 in a staff member or child. Please refer to the CDPHE Guidance for School and Child Care Closure page for ongoing updates.”

The request for childcare facilities to remain open was reaffirmed by subsequent COEE guidance on March 20^th.

Protecting Children – Protecting the Community

We recognize that parents in our community are experiencing fear and uncertainty and the desire to protect our children – the next great generation – is of primary concern.   However, today’s fear must be balanced against tomorrow’s consequences.   The impact on children having their educational routine disrupted and the impact on families if parents cannot work are simply some of the consequences.

The decision of the state of Colorado in asking childcare providers to remain open and OVCA’s decision to answer that call is based upon the balancing of fears and the ability to mitigate against consequences.  At OVCA we have implemented several new policies aimed at protecting children, parents and staff.  We are also cognizant of the limited health risk to children, parents and staff.  This is a difficult balancing act but by working together we can ensure both current safety and future sustainability for everyone.

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In the wake of state and federal announcements of social distancing rules, business closures and stay-at-home orders many people are confused by childcare centers that remain open.  While many centers have closed voluntarily   many people are confused by the fact that Our Village Children’s Academy (OVCA) and many other centers remain open.  While Colorado closed its public schools it specifically requested childcare providers to remain open and Colorado is not alone.  Texas, Ohio and even California and Washington – two of the hardest hit states by coronavirus – have kept their childcare centers open despite closing public schools.

The Reason – Children are at Low Risk

In issuing school closures and stay-at-home orders governments are very sensitive to both the public health implications as well as the implications for the larger economy.  This it is fair to say that governments do not make these decisions lightly.  Similarly, governmental decisions to allow and even plea with childcare providers to continue operations are perhaps the most carefully made of all public health decisions.  We must keep in mind that the governmental officials making these decisions include parents and grandparents of children that will be impacted and we should all be comforted in the knowledge that the attendance for children at childcare centers does not pose a significant health risk for the children or their parents and teachers.

There is no question that coronavirus is serious, it has caused deaths and we do not take it lightly, however, the seriousness of the virus must be placed in the context of whether allowing your child to attend a childcare center places the child or others at risk.  In this regard parents and providers must consider the specific demographic and structural differences between childcare centers and public schools.

Demographics.  Childcare centers typically care for children between 6 weeks and 6 years of age (OVCA is licensed for children up to age 7).  These children will typically have siblings in the same age range and will have parents that are typically 23-45 years of age with teacher ages mirroring that of parents.    While children certainly are not immune to COVID-19 healthy children are at significantly lower risk with relatively mild childhood symptoms and implications.  Certainly, children, as with adults, that have other underlying health conditions are at greater risk.  In general, however, otherwise healthy children are not significantly impacted by COVID-19.  For further information here are some resources on this issue.

Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and Children – Centers from Disease Control (CDC)

Parents’ Top Questions About COVID-19 (Coronavirus) – Children’s Hospital Colorado

Coronavirus in Babies and Children – Johns Hopkins University Medical Center

Structure.

Smaller Classes.  The structure of childcare centers when compared to K-12 demonstrate significant differences in helping to understand why childcare centers remain open while schools are closed.  In general, childcare centers must comply with very strict child-to-staff ratios which do not generally apply to schools.  Depending upon the age of a child the ratios in Colorado range from 5:1 for infants up to 12:1 for ages 4 and 5.  Some schools, including OVCA, actually have lower ratios to ensure quality attention for children.  Thus, the social distancing and other general restrictions on large numbers of people congregating are easily met in a childcare environment.  This is very different from K-12 schools where it is not unusual to have 20-35 children in a room with a single teacher.

Social Distancing.  Childcare center licensing standards in Colorado also require that classrooms provide a minimum of 30 square feet of space for each child in the room which makes it each for teachers to structure individual or group activities while complying with the 6-foot distancing recommendations of healthcare professionals.  This compliance is simply impossible in a K-12 classroom where children sit at desks in rows (as we all remember).

Self-Contained Classrooms.  Another important structure difference is that childcare center rooms are self-contained rooms.  Except for time spent outdoors each day, children and teachers remain in the same room and are not in contact with teachers and children from other classrooms.  This is in stark contrast with the situation in public schools where there may be resource teachers that travel from room to room and in the upper grades where children move from room to room with an ever changing group of kids for a each class course.

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Job Loss.  Nearly all of us know someone who has lost their job and income as a result of the current pandemic and all of America feels that pain.  In the event of a job loss it may be necessary to withdraw your child from their current center simply because of your loss of income and in ability to pay, however, you may have other options:

• Ask the center if they have any scholarships available or if they are willing to defer or reduce the tuition. When a child continues attendance they continue to learn and have socialization opportunities which many of us adults are currently craving;
• Ask the center if they can provide you with resources so that you can continue a lesson plan at home;
• Instead of automatically withdrawing a child as soon as you learn of your layoff, consider allowing the child to continue attending for one additional week, if financially able to do so. This will not only allow for the possibility that your work will resume and the child will have continuity of care, but allow you to work with the child’s teacher to transition to your at home care (this will be an adjustment time for parents too);
• If you have already withdrawn your child, check with their former center or others in the area to see if either of the first two options above are available.

Tele-Work Parents.  For parents that tele-work from home, either by choice or necessity, it may be difficult to balance the demands of the job as well as the demands of parenting.  This may be particularly difficult for the parents of babies.  Although many centers have closed, there remain several that remain open to fill the void.  While many parents of school age children found tele-work relatively easy in the past, extended school closing have complicated their ability to do so.  While friends and family may be willing to step in and help you should consider some of the available licensed childcare centers that are able to accommodate children in kindergarten and above.

Tele-Work Nursing Mothers.  Teleworking for nursing mothers may be particularly problematic.  Although all employers in the state are require to provide accommodations, what do you do when you are required to work from home?  OVCA recognized this need last summer when we initiated our Working and Nursing program.  Our facility has a segregated co-working space for parents and two private lactation rooms for mothers.  Infants continue to be cared for in our nursery.  We have now made the co-working space also available to parents of school age children up to age 7 where the children have their own separate supervised educational/play space.

Job-Site Working Parents.  Some of the biggest decisions are being faced by parents that are still required (or allowed) to work at their regular job sites.  You have a most difficult personal decision to make especially if you have school age children.  Many may be considering using paid vacation time to stay home with a child “until this blows over” or depending upon friends or family for daily care.  In making your decision you should consider the relatively low risk to children in a structed childcare facility as well as the educational and social impact on the child.  Other considerations include your ability to control the access to the homes of family and friends as well as sanitation.  State licensed childcare centers must comply with strict security and access rules which are heighted during this pandemic.  In addition, licensed facilities comply with state mandated routine disinfecting requirements throughout each day.

None of us know how long the current situation will last or if it will get worse before it gets better.  As a provider we are very familiar with the situation affecting parents and we jointly share with you the obligation to protect children.  The state has asked providers to keep the doors open unless there is a specific health risk.  Clearly, we and other providers will be required to close if there is a confirmed case or cause for concern in accordance with state guidelines.  However, until then we and other providers are continuing to provide a safe environment for children through the implementation of heightened sanitization and other policy changes.  We will continue to meet all of our obligations and we will not abandon parents and children.  We WILL all get through this together!!!

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