Emergency Child Care Initiative for Health Care Professionals
As part of the District of Columbia Government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19), the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is partnering with licensed child care providers to offer emergency care for the children of DC’s health care professionals.
While the current public health emergency means children should stay at home as much as possible, we recognize that may not be an option for health care professionals who continue to report to work. As a result, we have made emergency child care available for health care professionals who work in the District through OSSE’s Emergency Child Care Initiative for Health Care Professionals.
Emergency child care is currently being offered from 6 am to 8 pm, Monday through Friday, at six sites. The sites follow recent federal and District of Columbia Government health and safety guidance related to group size limits, cleaning protocols and screenings before children and staff enter a facility.
The first round of emergency child care partnerships includes three licensed providers: Alphabest Education, Champions and the United Planning Organization (UPO), who have the capacity to serve approximately 250 children at these six sites. OSSE may expand the number of providers and sites as we continue to assess the need.
Getting Started
Health care professionals who are in search of child care in DC are asked to complete a short interest form by visiting bit.ly/DCECI.
Once the form is submitted, DC Child Care Connections will reach out to discuss child care options and connect you with emergency providers who have available seats. If none of the emergency sites meet a family’s needs, DC Child Care Connections will refer the family to other non-emergency child care sites that have remained open.
You can also reach out directly to DC Child Care Connections at (202) 829-2500, and they will walk you through the form and offer immediate assistance.