No care for over a month
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Anonymous
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Unless we can get OSSE to update their guidelines I’m afraid all of us with kids in a DC daycare are f*cked
https://osse.dc.gov/page/covid-19-guidance-and-resources#health_safety |
Anonymous
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OP, (and others in similar situations) - I'm so sorry, but there are some really hopeful signs lately. I'm working with a group of parents that is advocating to improve these policies. Please see below for the action alert and update we circulated today.
// More big news on the daycare front! D.C. just announced that it will be rolling out test-to-stay in early childhood education programs. (See page 9 of today's situational update from the Mayor: https://mayor.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/coronavirus/page_content/attachments/Situational-Update-Presentation_01-10-22.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3dAmWXsrJII1bZ6gFxfMNh5jBLD8YusAAwQWVDAI3hQMHvw2iexPL76XY#page=9). If you're in D.C., contact the officials below to urge them to implement the test-to-stay immediately in all daycares. If you're in MoCo, reach out to the officials below and ask that MoCo implement test-to-stay for daycare programs in addition to ratifying the state's new K-12 and childcare isolation and quarantine guidance (https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/Documents/01.06.2022%20Memo%20School%20Childcare%20Guidance.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3Sz37YDvwGfjjMqn5JQideKmLWgRRlASVSdyCbKNPK-KYlCjAOWZVf5mQ). List of local officials again and a sample message below. OFFICIALS TO CONTACT: D.C. OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATION - Dr. Christina Grant (Acting State Superintendent of Education) / (202) 727-6436 / Christina.Grantdc.gov - David Esquith (Director of Policy and Planning, Health and Wellness Division) / David.Esquithdc.gov - Tia Bromsted (Deputy Assistant Superintendent, Health and Wellness) / Tia.Brumsteddc.gov DC HEALTH - Director LaQuandra Nesbitt / (202) 442-5955 / dohdc.gov - Jacqueline Watson (Chief of Staff to the Director) / (202) 442-5955 / jacqueline.watsondc.gov - Matteo Lieb (Legislative Affairs Director) / (202)-442-5955 / matteo.liebdc.gov - Patrick Ashley (Health and Medical Branch Director, COVID Operations Section and Senior Deputy Director, DC Health, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Administration) / Patrick.Ashley@dc.gov DC Council: https://dccouncil.us/councilmembers/ MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT - James C. Bridgers, DHHS Deputy Health Officer / 240-777-4253 / james.bridgers@montgomerycountymd.gov - Clark Beil, Senior Administrator for Licensure and Regulatory Services / o: 240-777-3831 / c: 240-832-6823 / clark.beil@montgomerycountymd.gov - Kenneth Welch, Environmental Health Manager / 240-777-3840/ Kenneth.Welch@montgomerycountymd.gov COUNTY EXECUTIVE: - Mark Elrich, County Executive / marc.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov - Earl Stoddard, Chief Administrative Officer for Health and Human Services / earl.stoddard@montgomerycountymd.gov - Sonia Mora, Senior Manager, MoCo Health and Human Services / sonia.mora@montgomerycountymd.gov - Montgomery County Councilmembers: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COU.../members/index.html SAMPLE MESSAGE: I'm the parent of two children in childcare, and I'm writing to urge you to immediately ratify the state's updated isolation and quarantine guidance for childcare programs. Parents are being absolutely devastated by the current daycare quarantine policies, which send healthy children home for up to 14 days at a time. I have personally experienced 56 days of unplanned childcare and lost work because of this policy. I know a family on their third 14-day quarantine in 6 weeks. A single mom with 3 kids who is having to choose between her job and caring for her children. It goes on. Every single day that a daycare center is closed or a healthy child is quarantined means that a parent, usually a mother, is being sidelined from her job. In addition to ratifying the state's new guidance, please follow D.C.'s lead and also authorize childcare programs to implement test-to-stay (TTS), which is approved by the CDC for unvaccinated children. TTS is the best way to keep children in care and safeguard parents' jobs. If it is logistically challenging for daycare centers to administer tests, please provide guidance that allows parents to test their children and demonstrate to the center that they are negative. The state's new guidance permits children to return from isolation and quarantine so long as they mask at all times other than when eating and napping. The same prerequisite can apply for children participating in TTS. Please do not continue to make our children mask in daycare while requiring quarantines that treat them as if they are unmasked all day. We can all take comfort in the fact that there is ample real-world evidence that young children’s close contacts rarely develop COVID-19. More to the point, virtually no other countries quarantine unmasked exposed toddlers and preschoolers, with no adverse outcomes. I’m frankly begging you to address this. We parents are running out of paid leave and losing our jobs over the current daycare quarantine policies. Our livelihoods are at stake. |
Anonymous
Thank you for this! I’m in MoCo and have been feeling rather helpless. During our recent 14 day quarantine, I was honest to god wishing for a positive test to break out of this cycle. Which is a terrible thought to have. |
Anonymous
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Thanks for this work. How do parents get involved in your group?
quote=Anonymous]OP, (and others in similar situations) - I'm so sorry, but there are some really hopeful signs lately. I'm working with a group of parents that is advocating to improve these policies. Please see below for the action alert and update we circulated today. // More big news on the daycare front! D.C. just announced that it will be rolling out test-to-stay in early childhood education programs. (See page 9 of today's situational update from the Mayor: https://mayor.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/coronavirus/page_content/attachments/Situational-Update-Presentation_01-10-22.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3dAmWXsrJII1bZ6gFxfMNh5jBLD8YusAAwQWVDAI3hQMHvw2iexPL76XY#page=9). If you're in D.C., contact the officials below to urge them to implement the test-to-stay immediately in all daycares. If you're in MoCo, reach out to the officials below and ask that MoCo implement test-to-stay for daycare programs in addition to ratifying the state's new K-12 and childcare isolation and quarantine guidance (https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/Documents/01.06.2022%20Memo%20School%20Childcare%20Guidance.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3Sz37YDvwGfjjMqn5JQideKmLWgRRlASVSdyCbKNPK-KYlCjAOWZVf5mQ). List of local officials again and a sample message below. OFFICIALS TO CONTACT: D.C. OFFICE OF THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT FOR EDUCATION - Dr. Christina Grant (Acting State Superintendent of Education) / (202) 727-6436 / Christina.Grantdc.gov - David Esquith (Director of Policy and Planning, Health and Wellness Division) / David.Esquithdc.gov - Tia Bromsted (Deputy Assistant Superintendent, Health and Wellness) / Tia.Brumsteddc.gov DC HEALTH - Director LaQuandra Nesbitt / (202) 442-5955 / dohdc.gov - Jacqueline Watson (Chief of Staff to the Director) / (202) 442-5955 / jacqueline.watsondc.gov - Matteo Lieb (Legislative Affairs Director) / (202)-442-5955 / matteo.liebdc.gov - Patrick Ashley (Health and Medical Branch Director, COVID Operations Section and Senior Deputy Director, DC Health, Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Administration) / Patrick.Ashley@dc.gov DC Council: https://dccouncil.us/councilmembers/ MONTGOMERY COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT - James C. Bridgers, DHHS Deputy Health Officer / 240-777-4253 / james.bridgers@montgomerycountymd.gov - Clark Beil, Senior Administrator for Licensure and Regulatory Services / o: 240-777-3831 / c: 240-832-6823 / clark.beil@montgomerycountymd.gov - Kenneth Welch, Environmental Health Manager / 240-777-3840/ Kenneth.Welch@montgomerycountymd.gov COUNTY EXECUTIVE: - Mark Elrich, County Executive / marc.elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov - Earl Stoddard, Chief Administrative Officer for Health and Human Services / earl.stoddard@montgomerycountymd.gov - Sonia Mora, Senior Manager, MoCo Health and Human Services / sonia.mora@montgomerycountymd.gov - Montgomery County Councilmembers: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COU.../members/index.html SAMPLE MESSAGE: I'm the parent of two children in childcare, and I'm writing to urge you to immediately ratify the state's updated isolation and quarantine guidance for childcare programs. Parents are being absolutely devastated by the current daycare quarantine policies, which send healthy children home for up to 14 days at a time. I have personally experienced 56 days of unplanned childcare and lost work because of this policy. I know a family on their third 14-day quarantine in 6 weeks. A single mom with 3 kids who is having to choose between her job and caring for her children. It goes on. Every single day that a daycare center is closed or a healthy child is quarantined means that a parent, usually a mother, is being sidelined from her job. In addition to ratifying the state's new guidance, please follow D.C.'s lead and also authorize childcare programs to implement test-to-stay (TTS), which is approved by the CDC for unvaccinated children. TTS is the best way to keep children in care and safeguard parents' jobs. If it is logistically challenging for daycare centers to administer tests, please provide guidance that allows parents to test their children and demonstrate to the center that they are negative. The state's new guidance permits children to return from isolation and quarantine so long as they mask at all times other than when eating and napping. The same prerequisite can apply for children participating in TTS. Please do not continue to make our children mask in daycare while requiring quarantines that treat them as if they are unmasked all day. We can all take comfort in the fact that there is ample real-world evidence that young children’s close contacts rarely develop COVID-19. More to the point, virtually no other countries quarantine unmasked exposed toddlers and preschoolers, with no adverse outcomes. I’m frankly begging you to address this. We parents are running out of paid leave and losing our jobs over the current daycare quarantine policies. Our livelihoods are at stake. |
Anonymous
Thank you for your interest. Please email us at daycarenormalcy@gmail.com to get involved. |
Anonymous
| We flew my parents in. Similarly, our daycare was closed from the 14-25 and then we've had 2 weeks of quarantine (the actual daycare personnel had covid, not just exposure). January is always a pretty depressing month, but it's hard. We are just constantly flying my parents in to cover when we know it will be an entire week. There's not really anything else we can do. There aren't any camps and no "babysitters" to be had. We don't want a nanny- we just want daycare to be open |
Anonymous
I encourage everyone to get involved in the advocacy with the info provided by the earlier poster. If not for you, do it for the single parents, the essential workers, those without nannies, workplace flexibility, or the ability to fly in their parents. |
Anonymous
I thought Montgomery County had. The new Maryland guidance came out last week and Montgomery has not said anything against is, which I thought it meant they approved. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
Coming from a single parent, yes please do! I’m drowning. Can’t afford nanny or flying someone in. Keep meaning to email leaders, but just trying to keep work and kid afloatuntil the next shutdown. So grateful to anyone who advocates. |
Anonymous
Hi - are you interested in talking to a national NPR reporter who's doing a piece on COVID-19 and daycares? I just spoke to her today and she would love to hear the perspective of someone like you. Please email me at daycarenormalcy@gmail.com if you are. |
Anonymous
| Arlington is also using the 10 day standard for daycares. Looks like we will just be in the cycle of short stents in care followed by quarantine for some time to come. It’s not easy. |
Anonymous
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I direct a childcare center in DC.
1. Yes, if a child has a close contact with someone who is positive, the child needs to be out of child care for 10 days. (Used to be 14 days, now 10 days) 2. Let me warn you that when they say test to return in schools, and list preschool and elementary schools, they mean PUBLIC/CHARTERS. They won't provide us (childcare centers) with the tests, they won't tell us we can do this. We shall see if they allow us to do it, AND we can't afford to buy all those tests. |
Anonymous
Thanks for this feedback. I'm hearing rumors that DC Health is revising the guidance to reduce the close contact quarantines to 5 days (aligning with the CDC). Have you heard anything about that? And regarding test-to-stay, we're requesting that it be authorized in daycares but providers wouldn't necessarily need to procure the tests. Parents could get their own and prove to the center that their children continue to test negative. |
Anonymous
In your specific situation (presuming you can afford it, since otherwise you wouldn’t have brought it up), a nanny does seem like a better idea. |