March 16, 2020
Protecting Our Communities' Children & Families
As we face this national health crisis, Head Start California is here to help support you as you take steps to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your communities safe. As we learn more about the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we want you to know the steps Head Start California is taking to ensure our children and families are protected. Our work on the national and state level remains committed to the increasingly important and urgent work of protecting our most vulnerable children and families within our Head Start communities.
Sharing Resources with Communities and Families
Many Head Start programs, staff members, teachers and parents are searching for answers in this time of uncertainty. We are compiling helpful resources including information from experts on how the Coronavirus impacts children, guides for how to talk to children about the outbreak, and more. We will continue to update and add to this list as more resources become available.
Visit our website.
NHSA's Kitchen Table Talks: Join the Head Start community at 12 p.m. PT this Wednesday, and every Wednesday until the threat of COVID-19 has subsided. This is your forum to offer your input and receive updates on what we know about the ever-changing situation, and share what may be useful for you and your Head Start family.
Register now
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Additionally, we are closely monitoring announcements from the Office of Head Start. You can find the official announcements from the
Office of Head Start here or by clicking the following links:
- Wage & benefit flexibility: In response to COVID-19, OHS is advising grantees to coordinate with local health authorities and implement their existing policies and procedures related to closure of Head Start centers during infectious disease outbreaks. Closure of centers in areas heavily impacted by COVID-19 is an important element of containing and limiting its spread.
- Food flexibility: Head Start and Early Head Start programs may provide meals and snacks to children during center closures. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has waived its group setting meal requirement for closed schools and authorized special flexibilities for many states.
Urging Federal Action
Right now, we are calling on the Senate to take immediate action to protect children and families and pass “The Families First Coronavirus Response Act.” This legislation is a crucial down payment on the relief that working families will need to weather this crisis. It contains:
- Paid sick days immediately for many workers;
- Additional paid leave for people who need more time away from work to care for themselves or family members as a result of the COVID-19 crisis;
- More tools for states to provide relief to unemployment workers and invest in public health; and
- Funding for nutrition assistance, Medicaid and more to both help families cope and stem the economic ripple effects of this crisis.
We are urging the Senate to pass a Coronavirus relief package that includes these essential protections for children and families.
Protecting the Head Start Community
The Office of Head Start is taking the necessary steps to protect Head Start staff and partners. We are working with national and local partners to develop plans around healthy meals, continuing learning opportunities and professional development, and evaluating all of our options to ensure kids and staff are able to learn and thrive in a safe and healthy environment.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our children and families. Head Start California will keep you updated with additional information as it becomes available. Please stay safe.
