ICYMI: Trump’s failed response to coronavirus has led to 40 percent of child care centers in Georgia closing

According to a survey from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), “18% of child care centers in the U.S. have closed their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic. Another 9% of licensed centers run out of family homes have closed.”

In Georgia, the numbers are even higher: 40% of child care centers have closed due to COVID-19, and 24% of family-run centers have closed.

“Even before coronavirus, our child care centers were struggling to stay in business,” said Maggie Chambers, communications director for the Democratic Party of Georgia. “But now, due to Trump’s failure to prepare the country for this crisis, Georgia child care centers are in free-fall, putting workers and families in an impossible situation. While the Trump administration doesn’t even pretend to have a plan to address this issue, Vice President Biden’s proposal lays out concrete steps that will empower working families and spur economic growth across Georgia. The difference between the two approaches could not be more clear, and it’s why we must elect Joe Biden in November.” 

WABE: ‘It’s Been Knocking At Our Door’: COVID-19 Takes A Toll On Child Care Centers
By Martha Dalton
August 3, 2020

• “Before COVID-19, Little Ones served about 175 kids each week. But once Georgia schools shut down, Okunoren-Meadows says enrollment dropped to eight children a week. It fluctuated between eight and 15 kids for March and April, she says. Now, the center serves about 60 kids a week. She hasn’t had to lay off staff yet, but initially, she had to cut back their hours.”

• “However, Okunoren-Meadows isn’t just worried about the money. She’s concerned about learning loss that can happen for kids ages 0 through 5. That’s when children learn the ‘soft skills’ like empathy, she says.”

• “The U.S. House of Representatives has passed two bills that would give child care providers $60 billion. The Senate is considering the HEALS (Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection, and Schools) Act, which would include $15 billion for child care.”

• “Pam Tatum says, realistically, it will take more money than either chamber is considering to keep the industry afloat. She says it’s hard to predict the long-term impact COVID-19 may have on the child care industry. But, she says, there could be a silver lining: the pandemic could give the U.S. a chance to rebuild its early education system.”

More information on Joe Biden’s plan to invest in our caregiving and early childhood workforce is available here.

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