All Types Of Childcare Are In Crisis In The Pandemic

CalMatters

In summary

Those with decision-making power at the state and federal level must be made aware of the depth and breadth of the need to help childcare providers.

By Marlene Bumgarner, Santa Cruz

Marlene Bumgarner is a professor at Gavilan College.

Re “Childcare is essential work, and it’s in crisis”; Commentary, Dec. 23, 2020

I agree with everything Charlotte Neal wrote. I would, however, extend the crisis to include all forms of childcare.

Charlotte is a licensed family childcare provider, which is the group of providers who care for the largest number of children in California. However, childcare centers, after school care (when school is in session), kinship care (when grandparents and other relatives care for children in their family) and in-home nanny care for children whose parents work at home should be included in her call to action.

Each of these methods of caring for our nation’s children come with some risk, to the caregiver, to the children and to the families of the children being cared for. Charlotte is absolutely correct that our economy – our society – depend on high-quality, safe childcare, and all members of this huge childcare army need economic support and prioritized preventative COVID-19 vaccinations in order to do their job effectively.

Charlotte’s message should be echoed in op-eds all over the state and the nation, and those with decision-making power regarding state and federal funding assistance or preventative health care must be made aware of the depth and breadth of the need. Immediately.

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