Editor’s note: This commentary is by Aubrey Boyles, who is a registered child care provider in Montpelier.
About a week ago the state announced the ending of the Child Care Stabilization Program, giving permission and encouragement for child care programs to reopen June 1. Although initially excited, many providers were caught off guard as the conclusion of the stabilization program means child care programs are under enormous pressure to reopen June 1 or risk the collapse of their businesses.
A week after encouraging child care programs to reopen, the state published updated guidelines that require adults providing care to greet children at the door wearing gloves, eye protection, and a face mask. Guidelines also suggested wearing a large smock that can be changed throughout the day. Even in the best scenario — for children returning to a familiar and beloved program — being greeted by a child care provider in full personal protective equipment will likely be scary. And for new children — who don’t have an established relationship with the program — being taken from their parents by a masked stranger may be deeply troubling.
Child care providers were not part of the decision-making process that put an end to the stabilization payment program, nor were they included in creating the guidelines. Many are concerned that either the state is ending the stabilization payment program too soon, pushing child care businesses to reopen by June 1, or that current healthy and safety guidelines don’t reflect the state’s position that it’s actually safe for them to reopen.
Many state regulators overseeing other sectors are hosting frequent meetings directly with businesses and people they oversee to discuss the creation of safe and workable regulations in response to Covid-19. During last Friday’s press conference Agency of Human Services Secretary Mike Smith spoke of meeting with dentists and dental hygienists to jointly come up with guidance that works for the businesses being regulated and their clients. Let’s Grow Kids and other advocacy groups are already at the table with child care regulators, as evidenced by Smith nearly quoting Let’s Grow Kids talking points when asked about child care regulations related to Covid. This is a good thing as far as it goes, but Let’s Grow Kids does not speak for the provider community as its mission is not simply to represent providers.
Child care programs need the same level of involvement as professionals in other sectors in the state’s process of creating guidance — a seat directly at the table with the departments that regulate them: The Health Department, the Agency of Education, and the Department for Children & Families. This is an immediate need as the health and safety guidance beginning June 1 undermines the ability of programs to provide children with compassionate, age-appropriate care.
