Colorado Emergency Childcare Collaborative Update
We all rely on child care workers—especially our essential medical, emergency and servie workers during the pandemic. Starting on March 23, the Colorado Emergency Childcare collaborative offered full tuition credits for child care to families of essential personnel in health care operations, public safety and those providing long-term care to critically at-risk populations in Colorado, ensuring that a lack of access to childcare does not keep them off the job. This Monday, the state extended a 100 percent tuition credit to all essential workers as outlined in Governor Polis’ Updated Public Health Order 20-24 issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. This care will be available to all essential workers until May 17.
The list of essential workers who will be covered by this care includes:
- Health Care Operations
- Critical Infrastructure
- Critical Manufacturing
- Critical Retail
- Critical Services
- News Media
- Financial Institutions
- Providers of Basic Necessities to Economically Disadvantaged Populations
- Construction
- Defense
- Critical Services Necessary to Maintain the Safety, Sanitation and Critical Operations of Residences or Other Critical Businesses
- Vendors that Provide Critical Services or Products, Including Logistics and Technology Support, Child Care and Services
Care through the Collaborative is provided by licensed child care providers across Colorado who have stepped up during the crisis to support families of essential workers. However, it is important for families to note that the supply of care is limited, and if they can access other care, they should do so. Emergency child care provided through the Collaborative is for when all other care settings are unavailable and families have no other options.
Families interested in being matched with a local child care provider can fill out the interest form at https://covidchildcarecolorado.com/. Families can fill out this form immediately to begin the matching process. To learn more about the details of the Collaborative visit the FAQ page.
