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COVID-19 Information Hub for Child Care Providers & Parents
A Message from Alessandra Lezama, CEO of TOOTRiS – During the pandemic, so much changed and everyone adapted to an unprecedented situation no one could have predicted – AKA the “New Normal.” Child Care is essential and Child Care providers are a crucial part of our communities. Everyone at TOOTRiS worked relentlessly to support Child Care providers during the pandemic, to ensure that we could provide the necessary assistance to parents so that they could return to the workforce. Our mission is to ensure that every child has access to quality Child Care, and that’s why we were here to support you.
What TOOTRiS Did – In order to assist parents and Child Care providers, TOOTRiS launched a comprehensive set of programs to help bridge the gap of Child Care enrollment. These programs were built to assist families, help employers who couldn’t risk losing employees over lack of Child Care, and provide support to Child Care providers that were struggling with resources.
- Free Child Care for Parents & Care Workers Getting Vaccinated, a program that provided care availability at no cost, to be used during a vaccination appointment and/or when recovering from side effects of a vaccination
- Safety First kits for Family Child Care Providers, that came with gloves, masks, disinfectant wipes, and informational best practices for cleaning
- Child Care Benefits for Employers, provided, and continues to provide, businesses with flexible services and resources to enable staff to remain product and employed
- Assistance Grants helped Family Child Care Providers with immediate costs of additional staff required to meet teacher to child ratios, and helped cover expenses associated with the purchase of cleaning materials in accordance with federal and state public health and safety guidelines
- Assistance Grants for Essential Workers helped with the cost of Child Care during this crisis
Empowering the Child Care Community in 2023: TOOTRiS’ Expanded Services, Enhanced Safety Measures, and Advocacy Efforts
- Expansion of Services: TOOTRiS has expanded its services to reach a wider audience and cater to the diverse needs of parents and Child Care providers. We offer an enhanced platform that provides a seamless experience for parents to search and secure Child Care arrangements, while also offering tools and resources for Child Care providers to manage their operations efficiently.
- Enhanced Safety Measures: TOOTRiS has implemented enhanced safety measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures include regular health screenings for Child Care providers, rigorous cleaning and sanitization protocols, and adherence to updated health guidelines from local and national authorities. TOOTRiS ensures that Child Care providers maintain a safe environment for children in their care.
- Collaboration with Local Agencies: TOOTRiS has established collaborations with local agencies and organizations to further support Child Care providers and families. We work closely with government agencies, nonprofits, and community-based organizations to provide additional resources, training opportunities, and financial support to Child Care providers. These partnerships aim to strengthen the Child Care ecosystem and ensure its sustainability.
- Advocacy Efforts: TOOTRiS actively advocates for policies and initiatives that prioritize the importance of Child Care and early education. They collaborate with policymakers, lawmakers, and industry stakeholders to raise awareness about the critical role of Child Care and to push for increased funding, improved regulations, and better support systems for Child Care providers and families.
FAQ’s & Resources
- Locate a Vaccine Near You (vaccines.gov)
- Official Government Site on COVID-19 (usa.gov/coronavirus)
- CDC Guidance for Child Care Providers (cdc.gov)
- CDC COVID-19 Resource Page (cdc.gov)
- TOOTRiS FAQ for Child Care Providers & Parents