City, community partners to launch emergency childcare centers for essential personnel
First center located at Downtown YMCA will admit children of medical personnel
Today outside the Downtown YMCA, Mayor Stoney announced his administration has partnered with the YMCA of Greater Richmond to provide emergency childcare to elementary and middle school-aged children of essential medical personnel in Richmond.
The site at the Downtown YMCA will open Monday and will be the first of several emergency childcare centers across the city. The centers will care for the children in grades Kindergarten through 8 of essential personnel for the duration of school closures due to COVID-19. Healthcare providers will work directly with the YMCA to register the children of essential employees eligible to participate in the program.
“When Superintendent Kamras made the tough but correct decision to close Richmond Public Schools last week, it was immediately clear to us that the city needed to gather its partners around the table and ensure the city’s most essential workforce wouldn’t have to worry about childcare while they’re on the frontlines of this pandemic,” said Mayor Stoney.
“The YMCA of Greater Richmond is honored to serve the families of our healthcare personnel during this unprecedented time,” said Tim Joyce, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Richmond. “Our quality staff team is looking forward to giving these families the comfort of knowing their children are in a safe environment with professional caregivers who are dedicated to their community.”
The YMCA’s sites will serve medical and healthcare personnel. The city intends to open additional childcare sites at Richmond Public Schools facilities in the coming weeks, pending approval from the Virginia Department of Social Services. Those expanded sites will cater to other essential government and non-government personnel, including first responders, sanitation and sold waste workers, bus drivers, and grocery store and pharmacy staff, among others. As the emergency childcare program expands to RPS sites, the city will partner with employers to identify and invite eligible participants.
The Community Foundation, through its newly-launched Central Virginia COVID-19 Response Fund, has committed to support the launch and operation of these emergency childcare centers.
“The Community Foundation views the YMCA of Greater Richmond as a high-impact partner in their work. We are honored to support their daily programs as well as special initiatives like this one,” said Scott Blackwell, Chief Community Engagement Officer for the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond.
The childcare centers will adhere to the most recent guidelines from the Virginia Departments of Health and Social Services. Precautions include: maximum child-to-staff ratio of nine to one, frequent temperature checks and thorough cleaning with CDC-approved disinfectants.
Children experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or residing in a household with anyone experiencing symptoms will not be admitted.
“None of the essential workforce should have to choose between knowing their kids are safe and keeping our community running,” said Mayor Stoney. “That’s why I charged my administration with providing this network of support. I’m excited to build it out.”
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