Covid-19 Information for Summer Camps, After School and Child Care Providers

We’re collecting information from partners across the country and posting links here on our website. The latest information is at the top. If a link is not yet live that means it is in process and will be posted soon.

*Updated guidelines from the CDC / Last update 5/25/2021

The CT Office of Early Childhood (OEC) has launched a new webpage to share information about the Federal COVID-19 relief funds to support Connecticut childcare programs https://www.ctoec.org/covid-19/federal-relief-funding-for-providers/.  This page will be OEC’s main source of information for providers regarding the implementation of these funds. We urge you to check this page regularly for updates.  The OEC has made available the Youth Camp Guide, a comprehensive guide for camp providers, that covers wearing masks, social distancing, health screenings, and more.

***Memo #15 has been sunsetted.  All information previously in this document is available in Memo 6 Message Regarding Child Care and Memo 29 Group Size, Mask Requirements, and Ventilation***

OEC is pleased to announce that applications for the Child Care Program Stabilization Funding opportunity are currently being released! Funded through the American Rescue Plan, this funding will go toward providing much needed relief and assistance to ECE providers who have struggled financially due to the pandemic. United Way 211 Child Care is emailing personalized applications in batches over the next few days to those eligible providers with a supplier ID and is ready to support you with any questions or assistance completing the application.

State of Connecticut

OEC Memo 29: Group Size and Mask Requirements (10/9)

OEC posts FAQs to assist providers with compliance.  Please consult our website for information to support implementation of this and other memos. 

OEC increases the allowable group size in child care programs, including camps and before and after school programs to 16 students (8/21)

CT Office for Early Childhood COVID resources page

CT OEC Detailed Guidance for Summer Camps (5/19)

CT OEC Informed Consent Form (5/19)

CT OEC Guidance for School-Age Programs in Connecticut During the COVID-19 Pandemic (5/1)

CT SDE Guidance for Re-Opening Schools in the Fall (6/29) and FAQs about Reopening (7/27)

“Adapt, Advance, Achieve: Connecticut’s Plan to Learn and Grow Together”

CSDE Launches CT Learning Hub (7/16)

Important Changes to Summer Program Rules (6/22)

Governor Lamont’s Powerpoint presentation on the summer school re-entry plan (6/3)

Governor Lamont released his Reopen Connecticut report, (Powerpoint) which contains recommendations from the Reopen Connecticut Adrvisory Group (5/27)

Lots of up-to-date Connecticut-specific information for families and educators can be found on the Connecticut State Department of Education website here: https://portal.ct.gov/SDE/COVID19/COVID-19-Resources-for-Families-and-Educators

Up-to-date Connecticut-specific information can be found on the Connecticut State Department of Health website here: https://tinyurl.com/str8nxr.

Summer Planning (updated 4/28/21)

Summer Planning Tools (2020 planning tools but still useful)

Summer Activity Guides (2020 guides with good projects virtual or in-person)

American Camp Association Resource Center for Camps

–Field Guide for Camps on Implementation of CDC Guidance (last update 1/21/22)

Checklist of ADDITIONAL Actions when a COVID Case has Occurred at a Camp Program (YMCA)  (2020 still valid)

CDC Toolkit for Summer Camps (1/14/2021)

CDC Guidance for Youth and Summer Camps (4/24/2021)

CT OEC Youth Camps and COVID-19 FAQ’s (contains links to resources and information) (4/29/2021)

Youth Programs and Camps Readiness and Planning Tools (4/28/2021) (NEW)

CT After School Out of School Time Webinars:

–OST Day 1 Virtualizing After School: Connecting with Children in Light of the Pandemic

–OST Day 2 Tips and Tricks for Health, Safety, and Happiness during Covid19

–OST Day 3 The Power of Your Self-Care, presenter Ebony Grace

–OST Day 4 Behavior Management in the Time of Covid, presenter Khadija Bshara

National Summer Learning Webinar Series (2021)

Planning for an Impactful Summer (2021)

Addressing the Impact of COVID-19 through Summer Learning and Enrichment  (very informative and hopeful webinar 2021)

Youth Camp Guidance from OEC  (March 16, 2021 updated)

Program Administration

CDC Guidance for summer camps, childcare, schools, and other youth programs as they look to reopening. The suite of information also includes decision making tools.

The Centers for Disease Control has released information to help after school, child care, and schools plan, prepare and respond to the coronavirus. You can find this information here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html

ConnStep/CBIA Infrared Thermometers for Small Businesses and Nonprofits Request Form (5/21)

Health Disclosure Policy (5/4)

Sample Daily Checklist for School Age Programs (YMCA) (4/9)

Model for After School Staff as All Around School Helpers (8/4)

Coordinating with School to Prepare to Reopen (6/29) with sample email, letter and NEW IMPROVED visual for grouping students (7/16)

Proposed Guidance for the Establishment of Emergency Child Care Services for the School-Age Children of Essential Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic (5/8)

Emergency Child Care Handbook, including Questions to Ask Before You Reopen Your Program (5/4)

The CT Data Collaborative has a created a graphic dashboard of statistics that can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/uej8xym

CT Rec & Parks Association Covid-19 Resources includes info on camps and aquatics (5/19)

State of CT Supplier List – Hand Sanitizer, Masks & Cleaning Products (5/21)

CDC COVID Vaccination Tracker

Video of some of the safety precautions in a child care for kids of essential workers (6/4)

Please read this information, share it with your staff and partners. And consider helping the children in your care to understand the best way to wash their hands – here’s a great video that can help demonstrate: https://youtu.be/aGJNspLRdrc.

The OST Mini Conference Recordings can be downloaded from the following blog location: https://ctafterschoolnetwork.org/ost-mini-conference-recordings/

Connecticut After School Network

Vaccine Information for After School Staff (1/13/21)

Looking for Activities to Do with Kids 3/23)

Coronavirus Resources for Funders and Nonprofits (2021)

Resources from the Afterschool Alliance (3/23)

SEL for the Provider (3/23)

National Summer Learning Webinar Series (2021)

For questions, please call 211 Child Care at 1-800-505-1000, email childcarefunding@ctunitedway.org  or visit https://www.ctoec.org/covid-19/ready-set-rebuild/stabilization-funding.  Make sure to have your child care license number available to expedite assistance.

Please note that you must complete a separate application for each licensed site number.

The Women’s Business Development Council (WBDC) is also available to provide no cost business assistance with helping to identify best use of funds, methods for tracking expenses, taxes, and more!  Please contact them at childcarebusiness@ctwbdc.org or (203) 751-9550 x 113 to speak with Eloisa Melendez.  Services are available in English or Spanish.

This information has been a collaborative effort by programs and experts working in the school-age child care field, and as such represents best practices as they are currently identified. We are not health care experts, so it is essential that every child care program use their own judgement in implementing this advice and also consult with the health department in their city or region about proper procedures.