On March 17th, County Administrator Jason Molino directed all licensed daycare centers within Tompkins County be closed through April 13th, 2020. In response to this order, the Child Development Council has established a plan to accommodate the child care needs of those individuals who are deemed essential personnel. Health care and emergency service employers are identifying their essential personnel and notifying the Child Development Council about who qualifies for this referral.
The following child care is available upon referral:
• Two licensed daycare centers will re-open to serve only the children of essential personnel; they will reduce their class sizes by half.
• Registered family child care and licensed group family child care have been surveyed for openings and willingness to enroll additional children.
• The Child Development Council is in communication with individual teachers who are not currently working at their childcare or school age childcare program who are willing to provide independent contracting or “nanny” services in their home or in the children’s home. These teachers have background checks as a result of their prior employment.
• All child care providers and locations will take necessary precautions to slow the spread of germs through cleaning, handwashing and other hygiene practices.
Essential personnel can call the Child Development Council at (607) 273-0259 and leave a message or email at info@childdevelopmentcouncil.org for information on childcare. A Referral Specialist at the Child Development Council will return the messages.
The Child Development Council will continue to evaluate and adjust this plan as necessary to best meet the childcare needs of essential health care workers and emergency personnel.