Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 12:54     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it's pretty terrible. I get that the state is in a tough position, but this caught everyone pretty flat-footed.

Our center just closed. They had only been serving 30 kids total (this is across almost 2 dozen rooms) since the public schools closed, but now they are closing entirely.

On the subject of the state centers, this is what they said: "Conceptually these EPCC Centers should be a regular Child Care center which has passed through some quality check screening and should meet some degree of quality standards. I cannot give you much more feedback. I did speak with our MSDE representative and it is pretty clear that they were caught by surprise by this pretty rapid shift in direction. So it may take a few days to get sorted out."

So even within the childcare provider community, it doesn't seem like anyone has good information about this.


I think a lot of bigger centers where one person doesn't make the decisions and this would have to go through corporate aren't going to be able to submit paperwork in time.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 12:54     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it's pretty terrible. I get that the state is in a tough position, but this caught everyone pretty flat-footed.

Our center just closed. They had only been serving 30 kids total (this is across almost 2 dozen rooms) since the public schools closed, but now they are closing entirely.

On the subject of the state centers, this is what they said: "Conceptually these EPCC Centers should be a regular Child Care center which has passed through some quality check screening and should meet some degree of quality standards. I cannot give you much more feedback. I did speak with our MSDE representative and it is pretty clear that they were caught by surprise by this pretty rapid shift in direction. So it may take a few days to get sorted out."

So even within the childcare provider community, it doesn't seem like anyone has good information about this.


Our daycare had only been serving about 2-3 kids in each age group (small daycare), mostly the parents were working in national security. Not sure what they'll do.


I am an essential worker, but luckily only have to work every other week and am married to a non-essential teleworker. I don't know what 2 essentil workers would do.

There's absolutely NO way we would drop our 3 year old off at some random state-run place.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 12:53     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, it's pretty terrible. I get that the state is in a tough position, but this caught everyone pretty flat-footed.

Our center just closed. They had only been serving 30 kids total (this is across almost 2 dozen rooms) since the public schools closed, but now they are closing entirely.

On the subject of the state centers, this is what they said: "Conceptually these EPCC Centers should be a regular Child Care center which has passed through some quality check screening and should meet some degree of quality standards. I cannot give you much more feedback. I did speak with our MSDE representative and it is pretty clear that they were caught by surprise by this pretty rapid shift in direction. So it may take a few days to get sorted out."

So even within the childcare provider community, it doesn't seem like anyone has good information about this.


Our daycare had only been serving about 2-3 kids in each age group (small daycare), mostly the parents were working in national security. Not sure what they'll do.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 12:49     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Yeah, it's pretty terrible. I get that the state is in a tough position, but this caught everyone pretty flat-footed.

Our center just closed. They had only been serving 30 kids total (this is across almost 2 dozen rooms) since the public schools closed, but now they are closing entirely.

On the subject of the state centers, this is what they said: "Conceptually these EPCC Centers should be a regular Child Care center which has passed through some quality check screening and should meet some degree of quality standards. I cannot give you much more feedback. I did speak with our MSDE representative and it is pretty clear that they were caught by surprise by this pretty rapid shift in direction. So it may take a few days to get sorted out."

So even within the childcare provider community, it doesn't seem like anyone has good information about this.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 11:39     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
What happens if a provider is full? Do they just keep going to other sites and hoping someone takes their kid? I assume locations near hospitals are going to have this problem.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 11:37     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am confused on this. Families are just supposed to drop their kids at random centers that will take them?


Yes, and this is craziness!
We are both essential but luckily one of us works evenings so we dont need daytime childcare, just twice a week for 3 hours each time in the afternoon. We are making do with a babysitter but for people who need childcare who are essential this is crazy.


Yeah that's crazy. Also, eveyrone says there aren't many two essential worker couple but htere are actually a lot. A LOT of nurses marry firefighters or doctors.


+1 In a previous thread someone said they need to do this (have centers for essential personnel's families) and I brought up problem of asking people to drop their kids off with a random provider. I got slammed for that comment for some reason. As though essential workers somehow can't worry about their kids?


This is scary. I’m not essential but there’s a lot of thought that goes into choosing a childcare provider. Sometimes your child just doesn’t click with a teacher or center. This is already a stressful time for everyone, I can’t imagine having to drop off my baby at a random center because that’s what’s assigned to me.

Ugh. It sounds like a terrible situation for those families.

Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 10:18     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am confused on this. Families are just supposed to drop their kids at random centers that will take them?


Yes, and this is craziness!
We are both essential but luckily one of us works evenings so we dont need daytime childcare, just twice a week for 3 hours each time in the afternoon. We are making do with a babysitter but for people who need childcare who are essential this is crazy.


Yeah that's crazy. Also, eveyrone says there aren't many two essential worker couple but htere are actually a lot. A LOT of nurses marry firefighters or doctors.


+1 In a previous thread someone said they need to do this (have centers for essential personnel's families) and I brought up problem of asking people to drop their kids off with a random provider. I got slammed for that comment for some reason. As though essential workers somehow can't worry about their kids?
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 10:17     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I am confused on this. Families are just supposed to drop their kids at random centers that will take them?


Yes, and this is craziness!
We are both essential but luckily one of us works evenings so we dont need daytime childcare, just twice a week for 3 hours each time in the afternoon. We are making do with a babysitter but for people who need childcare who are essential this is crazy.


Yeah that's crazy. Also, eveyrone says there aren't many two essential worker couple but htere are actually a lot. A LOT of nurses marry firefighters or doctors.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 10:12     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:I am confused on this. Families are just supposed to drop their kids at random centers that will take them?


Yes, and this is craziness!
We are both essential but luckily one of us works evenings so we dont need daytime childcare, just twice a week for 3 hours each time in the afternoon. We are making do with a babysitter but for people who need childcare who are essential this is crazy.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 10:09     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:I am confused on this. Families are just supposed to drop their kids at random centers that will take them?


Yes, it seems like a bad idea.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 10:09     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Anonymous wrote:Maryland is closing daycares at the end of the day today. While they can reopen for children of essential workers, it comes with some significant conditions.

This puts my family in a tough situation. We're both essential workers, and our children go to a daycare with only one other child. The provider has turned away other families looking for childcare in order to limit the potential for spreading the virus. While she could technically keep operating, she's been told she'd have to willing to take additional children from other essential workers. Since she's not comfortable with that, she's going to shut down.

Apparently Maryland has arranged for free daycare for essential workers at the places that remain open. But that sounds like a terrible situation. You're crowding a bunch of high-risk kids together. I would have much rather continued with my status quo.


That stinks. I'm keeping my child home with me but our provider is open and it's a similar situation--they're down to just 2-3 kids right now who have been there forever depending on the day and they're fairly low risk (I know at least one of the families has parents working in national security). They'd rather close than take new kids they don't know.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 10:03     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
I am confused on this. Families are just supposed to drop their kids at random centers that will take them?
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 09:57     Subject: Re:Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Interesting how my daycare center would rather shutdown and continue to charge us full tuition, rather than serve the essential workers.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 09:55     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
OP yes I just saw this.
https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/childcare-providers-in-maryland-to-close-by-friday-night-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak/65-ac40d069-f834-4707-90af-ebacb78fee5a

Thank you for the work you do. I can't imagine how difficult this must be.
Anonymous
Post 03/27/2020 09:48     Subject: Maryland Daycares Closing March 27th
Maryland is closing daycares at the end of the day today. While they can reopen for children of essential workers, it comes with some significant conditions.

This puts my family in a tough situation. We're both essential workers, and our children go to a daycare with only one other child. The provider has turned away other families looking for childcare in order to limit the potential for spreading the virus. While she could technically keep operating, she's been told she'd have to willing to take additional children from other essential workers. Since she's not comfortable with that, she's going to shut down.

Apparently Maryland has arranged for free daycare for essential workers at the places that remain open. But that sounds like a terrible situation. You're crowding a bunch of high-risk kids together. I would have much rather continued with my status quo.