Caring in a Time of COVIDMFN's new report, Caring in a Time of Pandemic: Will Maryland's Child Care Survive COVID-19? was just released. The report details the data gleaned from child care providers across the state via a survey conducted in January. Providers report that since March of 2020, their monthly expenses have increased on average $5,339 per location. This comes as a result of needing to purchase essential PPEs and other COVID related health and safety necessities. What’s more, as a result of lower enrollment caused by the virus, 79% of providers say they’ve experienced a financial loss due to COVID-19 (up from 67% in April of 2020). A whopping 49% of child care providers said they may close for good if help doesn’t arrive soon. These results indicate that there is a significant threat to Maryland's child care industry and to our overall economy. Download the report here. MFN Launches Program to Support Struggling Child Care Programs
An 18-month program, which is expected to expand over time, will initially serve 60 child care providers across Baltimore, Prince George’s, and Montgomery counties. The first cohort of providers, who collectively have the capacity to serve nearly 500 children, was chosen as part of a competitive application process. Maryland Family Network received 185 applications for the 60 spots. The resources provided by MD Child Care Boost are available in both English and Spanish. This is especially beneficial to providers for whom English is not their first language to be competitive, both in their business models, and academically in their programs.
"Child care is the backbone of the economy,” said Laura Weeldryer, Executive Director of Maryland Family Network. “In order to truly recover from the ongoing pandemic, we must do everything in our power to ensure that every child —no matter their zip code — has equitable access to quality care. Making sure child care providers have the tools and resources they need to be successful is a huge step in bringing that equity to every community.”
Providers who participate in the Maryland Child Care Boost program will have free access to Wonderschool, an innovative online platform that connects families to a diverse set of child care options and supports the providers. Through Wonderschool, providers will be able to create websites, promote their programs in the platform’s marketplace, manage enrollment, schedule events and tours, record business activities and expenses, contact prospective and current families, and access data to gain insights. They will also be able to tap new supports like financial assistance and discounted tax preparation services.CDA Development Funding OpportunityHave you ever wanted to pursue your Child Development Associate credential but it was too expensive? Help has arrived! Maryland Family Network, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), and the Council for Professional Recognition are partnering to provide thousands of Maryland's early childhood educators with financial support to help them earn the Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. These financial awards will cover registration and other fees as well as books required for the program. By earning their CDA, Maryland's child care professionals will expand their career options and have greater knowledge with which to serve young children across our state. Get full details here.Parent Cafes Are Now VirtualParent Cafés are two-hour, structured get-togethers that engage parents and other adults in meaningful conversations about what matters most to families with young children and how to build protective factors at home and in early childhood settings. At Parent Cafés, those who care for young children share information and ideas that can help them to take care of themselves, develop strong relationships with children, and strengthen families. MFN also provides facilitator training for representatives from organizations interested in offering Parent Cafés.
In July of 2020, in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, MFN began offering Parent Cafés virtually. The transition to Virtual Parent Cafés was thoughtfully designed to re-create their important elements while still allowing people to be safe. Learn more about Virtual Parent Cafés or attending Virtual Parent Café Training Sessions here. April is Child Abuse Prevention MonthNational Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of communities working together to help families thrive and prevent child maltreatment. The 2021 theme is "Thriving Children and Families: Prevention with Purpose" and that is exactly what MFN's Family Support and Early Head Start Centers work to achieve every day. It is also the goal of our work on behalf of child care providers and our advocacy efforts in Annapolis. In all we do, MFN focuses on helping children and families to build resilience and have positive outcomes. Keeping children safe starts by investing in stronger support systems for families. Check out this link to learn more about what you can do in your community.
MFN in the NewsInvest in Maryland's Child Care for the Sake of the Future (The Baltimore Sun)
What the American Rescue Plan Means nvest in Maryland's Child Care for the Sake of the Future (The Baltimore Sun)
What the American Re for Maryland Child Care Providers (Maryland Matters)
Lawmakers Aim to Add Child Care Assistance to Relief Act of 2021 (Maryland Matters)
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