DCHS Offers Residents Child Care Guidelines, Opportunities For Financial Assistance And Tips For Finding Childcare

Press release from the City of Alexandria:

Jun 16, 2021 at 12:29 PM

DCHS Offers Residents Child Care Guidelines, Opportunities
for Financial Assistance and Tips for Finding Childcare

For Immediate Release: June 16, 2021

As the
school year ends and summer begins, the Department of Community and Human
Services reminds parents and caregivers to review child supervision guidelines
and how to access opportunities for financial assistance and tips for finding
childcare.

For many
parents and caretakers, there may be a need to leave children home alone for a
period of time during the summer. Home Alone? Supervision Guidelines provides information about what age ranges are
considered to be adequate for unsupervised time at home, babysitting
guidelines, what steps your family needs to take to prepare, and a family
checklist. In particular, parents and caregivers should consider whether their
child:

• Understands
  instructions and follow important rules
• Knows
  how to ask for help from friends, neighbors and police
• Makes
  good decisions when away from you or other adults
• Knows
  when to contact you and 911 when needed
• Feels
  comfortable and confident about staying home alone

There are no
laws in Virginia that say specifically at what age or for how long a child can
be left alone. Parents are ultimately responsible for making decisions about
their children’s safety. Every child is different, and must be assessed based
on their maturity, skills and comfort level to be home alone.

Access the
guide in English and Spanish. For
questions, call 703.746.5902.

DCHS also
offers tips on choosing child care, including a checklist for visiting providers in homes
or centers and tips on how to observe staff, indoor and outdoor spaces as well
as questions to ask about daily routines, fees, contracts and more. Access a
brochure with this information in English, Arabic, Amharic and Spanish.

Alexandria
residents needing assistance for childcare can access a variety of options,
including the Virginia Child Care Subsidy Program, which expanded eligibility
to include caregivers who are job searching and families earning 85% of the
Virginia Median Income. For example, a family of four earning less than $7,412
per month may be eligible for 12 months of assistance. The temporary expansion
helps parents cover the cost of child care and find or maintain employment.
Applications are due by July 31. View flyers in English and Spanish and learn more about
this program and other opportunities for financial assistance.

For more
information about programs and services for parents, caregivers and children,
visit alexandriava.gov/DCHS.

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Carmen Andres, Public Information Specialist, at carmen.andres@alexandriava.gov.

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This press release was produced by the City of Alexandria.The views expressed here are the author’s own.