COVID-19 Updates

Child Care Resources is supporting the recommendations of Public Health Seattle & King County. Please check this page for available resources and the latest updates on COVID-19.

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If you are seeking child care, call the Child Care COVID-19 Communications, Response and Referral Center: 1-800-446-1114

Click here to download COVID Response and Referral PDFs in multiple languages

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Click here for:

Area specific resources

Educational resources

Guidance on using child care

Immigrant Community Resources

Kaleidoscope Play & Learn Group resources

Mental Health Resources

Provider specific updates

School District Child Care Programs in WA State

School District Meal Programs in WA State

Translated Resources

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January 22, 2021

Hear from vaccine experts and help educate your communities.

Panelists will discuss how communities have been centered during the vaccine process, specific efforts to engage BIPOC and older adult communities, and the importance of vaccination to address disparities in hospitalization and death.

Click here to register: Tuesday, January 26th, 3-5pm

Click here to register: Thursday, February 4th, 9-11am

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November 16, 2020

Governor Jay Inslee issued new statewide restrictions on social gatherings and businesses in response to the surge of COVID-19 across Washington State. You can read the Governor’s full proclamation here, review the guidance page here, and review the Governor’s Medium Post here.

RESTRICTIONS

COVID-19 guidance for child care facilities and schools remains unchanged. Learning pods created to help with child care and virtual learning can also continue, and are not subject to the indoor gathering restriction.
Effective on November 16, all indoor social gatherings with people outside your household are prohibited. Outdoor gatherings can continue, but are limited to five people outside of your household. We know that prolonged social indoor gatherings is one of the main drivers of the COVID-19 surge.
Business activity will be limited as well. Effective November 16, in-store retail is limited to 25% occupancy, which represents a change from the current 30% occupancy limit. All personal services – like hair salons – are limited to 25% occupancy, which is a decrease from the previous 50% occupancy limit.
Effective November 18, all indoor dining at restaurants and bars is prohibited. Outdoor dining and takeout service can continue, and table occupancy is limited to five guests per table. This represents a change in previous guidance, which allowed indoor dining at 50% capacity and six guests per table.

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November 16, 2020

Human Services Division - City of Bellevue

Food Access Information

Mental Health Resources

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October 19, 2020

New COVID-19 testing sites in South King County (Auburn, Federal Way, Renton, Tukwila)

Link to all COVID-19 testing sites here: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/testing.aspx

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October 8, 2020

King County CARES Child Care Financial Assistance Program will allow families to access up to 3 months of child care financial assistance. Additionally, we will be able to assist families with copays for Working Connections, CCAP, or Seattle Parks and Rec through this program.

For families that need assistance with childcare costs they may be eligible if:

The child is aged 0-12
They live or work in King County
Their income falls under 400% FPL
The families income, work schedule or access to childcare has been negatively impacted by COVD-19

Parent(s)/Caregivers are essential workers.

To complete an application and determine eligibility families can:

Call or text 1-800-446-114 to request an application

Fill out an online application at https://tinyurl.com/kingCCFA

King County CARES Act Child Care Financial Assistance FAQs

CARES_Childcare_Flyer-English

Spanish_CARES_ChildcareFlyer

King County CCFA flyer has been translated into 22 languages and can be found here: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/community-human-services/COVID/child-care.aspx

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October 7, 2020

City of Seattle - Low-Cost Internet Programs

Translated versions of Low-Cost Internet Programs available here

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October 5, 2020

Free Flu Vaccine and Health Screening Event - October 10th

Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/SKCFamilyHealthSafetyFair/

“We are overjoyed to share that while we are not able to have the full health fair this year due to the pandemic, we are still able to provide the same free health screenings and flu shots as we do each year. In addition, our community partners will also be handing out masks for both children and adults. Please help us share this great news with our communities who can benefit. Thank you."

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Friday, June 26, 2020

Skyway Food Distribution - Saturday, June 27th - Click here to download PDF

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Thursday, May 21, 2020

Potato Pickup! Friday, May 29th - Click here to download PDF

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Thursday, May 14, 2020

The Somali Health Board in partnership with Swedish's Community Response Clinic and the Abubakr Islamic Center will be offering FREE COVID-19 screening and testing.

Date: Monday, May 18

Time: 10 AM - 4 PM

Location: Abubakr Islamic Center of WA - 14101 Tukwila International Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98168 (Parking lot).

Registration is required. Schedule your appointment today at: www.covidshb.org/covid-19-screening

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Tuesday, May 12, 2020

COVID-19 Testing: QFC and Fred Meyer announced a partnership with the City of Seattle and the Seattle Mariners for free COVID-19 drive-thru testing. The first testing will be at the T-Mobile Park in Seattle, May 13-14.

Testing Site Information:

● Dates: Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14

● Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

● Location: T-Mobile Park Parking Garage at 1250 1st Ave S. Seattle – south entrance (Massachusetts and Occidental)

● Registration is required. Register at krogerhealth.com/covidtesting or call 1-888-852-2567 (select option 1, then option 3).

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Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Dear Child Care and Early Learning Community,

We are happy to announce that the updated COVID-19 Childcare Guidance and related materials have been published on the Public Health - Seattle & King County (PHSKC) website. The changes reflect updates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the impact of COVID-19 in King county.

The updated child care recommendations and guidance documents can be found here or visit: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/schools-childcare/childcare.aspx

Key updates include:

Updated list of COVID-19 symptoms: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/covid-19-fact-sheet-families.ashx

Symptom screening upon arrival for children and staff: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/covid-19-checklist-childcare.ashx

Recommendation for children over 2 years of age and staff to wear non-medical face coverings, if feasible: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/covid-19-checklist-childcare.ashx

Guidance for temporarily isolating individuals who become symptomatic while in care: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/covid-19-checklist-childcare.ashx

Change from 7 to 10 days of isolation for individuals who are showing COVID-19 symptoms or are a confirmed case: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/schools-childcare/childcare/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/C19/guidance-covid-19-in-childcare.ashx

Updated notification/reporting guidelines to PHSKC of suspected or confirmed cases (children and staff): https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/schools-childcare/childcare/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/C19/guidance-covid-19-in-childcare.ashx

Guidance on option for child cares serving families in essential services to remain open during 14-day symptom watch: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/schools-childcare/childcare/~/media/depts/health/communicable-diseases/documents/C19/guidance-covid-19-in-childcare.ashx

Child Care Health Program

Public Health – Seattle & King County

401 5^th Avenue, Suite 1000

Seattle, WA 98104

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Friday, May 1, 2020

Governor Jay Inslee has extended the Stay at Home, Stay Healthy Order in Washington State that shall remain in effect through Monday, May 31st, 2020. Child Care is exempt from this order because it is considered an essential business. Read Washington's Phased Approach to reopening businesses.

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Monday April 27, 2020

Washington State's Recovery Plan - April 2020 Policy Brief

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Wednesday April 22, 2020

COVID-19 Testing in Rainier Beach starting 4/22

Harborview Medical Center & KC Public Health will be setting up a COVID-19 testing site across from Rainier Beach. This site is intended to serve the surrounding community, and in particular those who do not have private insurance and are not already established with a medical clinic elsewhere. Language interpreters available by phone if you prefer to speak a language other than English. For more information, call 206-520-2285

• State Date: 4/22/2020
• Occurs EVERY Wednesday & Saturday
• Hours: 10am - 3pm
• Please see flyer (English) for additional details

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Monday April 6, 2020

Governor Jay Inslee has announced the extension of school closures for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The order keeps both public and private schools closed in accordance with the governor's original order on March 13.

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Thursday April 2, 2020

Governor Jay Inslee has extended the Stay at Home, Stay Healthy Order in Washington State that shall remain in effect through Monday, May 4th, 2020. Child Care is exempt from this order because it is considered an essential business.

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Thursday April 2, 2020

FAQ on Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act

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Friday March 27, 2020

Governor Inslee released a statement today on the federal stimulus package. Below is a summary of some allocations for Washington:

Summary of some allocations for Washington state:
• State Coronavirus Relief Fund: estimated $1.624 billion for Washington state (state share) and estimated $1.329 billion for WA local governments (local share) for a $2.953 billion total for Washington, out of $150 billion total;
• Child Care Development Block Grant: estimated $58.2 million for Washington out of $3.5 billion total;
• Community Services Block Grants for counties and cities to rapidly respond to the economic and housing impacts caused by COVID-19: estimated $11.8 million for Washington out of $1 billion total;
• Low Income Energy Assistance program: estimated $11.1 million for Washington out of $900 million total;
• Education Stabilization Fund, to help ensure K-12 schools and institutions of higher education can continue to serve students as they respond to the coronavirus crisis.

Education Stabilization Fund: estimated $56.6 million for Washington out of $2.953 billion
Elementary and Secondary Education: estimated $216.9 million for Washington out of $13.229 billion total.

• Hanford: Directions to the federal government to ensure tens of thousands of workers at the Hanford Nuclear Site and PNNL who cannot telework will continue to receive pay.

For more information, click here.

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Friday March 27, 2020

The Child Care COVID Communication, Response, and Referral Center is ready to support families seeking child care, child care providers needing up to date COVID information and safety supports, as well as employers needing child care options for their workforce.

Please call 1-800-446-1114. Our expanded call center will be able to serve callers immediately and in their home languages.

COVID Response and Referral - Chinese

COVID Response and Referral - English

COVID Response and Referral - Somali

COVID Response and Referral - Spanish

COVID Response and Referral - Vietnamese

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Wednesday March 25, 2020

The Child Care Aware of WA Family Center (statewide child care resource and referral call center), operated by Child Care Resources has been identified to serve as the statewide Child Care COVID Communication, Response, and Referral Center during the pandemic. We are currently working to scale our capacity to best meet the needs of our families, child care providers, and communities. We understand the need to have real time referral information available throughout the pandemic to best support first responders and at risk families to access care. For this purpose we are actively tracking child care openings and closures.

We have deployed a new cloud based phone and communication system that went live today. We will also have the ability to accept and respond to text messages directly through the 1-800-446-1114 number for the call center so providers can text us directly with current openings or closures. We may expand the use of the text function as we continue to learn more about child care community expanding needs through this crisis.

Early Achievers (EA) Coaches in King and Pierce will also be deployed to support the expanded response center to answer child care provider questions and to collect rapidly changing information from the field. They will also continue to support their regional EA child care sites to support child care providers to adapt care for children and their families throughout this crisis and to provide safety information for providers, their staff, and children and families they serve.

Click here to download the PDF

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Monday March 23, 2020

Governor Inslee announces "Stay Home, Stay Healthy" order

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Monday March 23, 2020

Congress is considering a COVID-19 recovery package right now and families, communities, and business leaders across the state and country are calling on Washington's Congressional delegation to include significant funding for early learning. We need this investment to maintain our nation’s quality child care supply today and into the future. Share this letter, tag your elected leaders, and take action: https://mailchi.mp/childrensalliance/hb2556-yes-3152149

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Saturday, March 21, 2020

Great story on KING 5 on our efforts to get urgently needed supplies to child care providers across WA who are running out of essentials like toilet paper & paper towels. Please share!
https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/child-care-centers-facing-supply-shortage-washington-state/281-7af4eed6-fdc8-412e-8f1b-979f06e5f74a

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Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Why is “social distancing” important?

Social distancing, or putting distance between yourself and others, helps reduce the spread of disease. Prohibiting events and large gatherings reduces the amount of close contact between people and reduces the chances of spreading disease. Many people who do get sick with COVID-19 will experience mild illness, but some people – particularly people over age 60 and those with underlying health conditions – may experience severe illness and require hospitalization. Taking these actions now will prevent overburdening the healthcare system so that people who need medical care can get it.

New resources:

Public Health has worked to develop guidance specific to different sectors and their needs.

Please note that many of these were developed with the original guidance for events smaller than 250 people. As of March 16, 2020, these now apply to events for fewer than 50 people.

• For childcares
• For retail businesses
• For gatherings of children and youth
• For faith-based organizations
• For small events
• For homeless service providers

Misinformation about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to create fear and hostility that is hurting many of our communities impacted by inequities, particularly our Chinese and other Asian (and Pacific Islander) communities and unsheltered neighbors. This makes it harder to keep all of us healthy. COVID-19 does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, nationality, language, nor economic situation. King County will not tolerate hate and discrimination of any kind, and condemns the unfounded fear and hostility aimed toward our API and unsheltered communities. Let us remember that we are stronger together, particularly in slowing down the spread of COVID-19 and promoting our collective health and well-being. King County is striving to be a welcoming community for all – especially for those that face racism and xenophobia.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2020

As families navigate through school closures, here is a list of Student Lunch Support Programs offered by school districts in King and Pierce County.

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Tuesday, March 17, 2020

NAEYC: Child Care is Essential and Needs Emergency Support to Survive

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Monday, March 16, 2020

Inslee announces statewide shutdown of restaurants, bars and expanded social gathering limits