For Childcare
Information
- Information for Childcare
Thank you for your service as a childcare provider during the COVID-19 state of emergency. We are grateful for you!
The state of Michigan has developed numerous resources to help keep you informed about COVID-19 and the state’s response. We encourage you to visit our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions Resource site to explore childcare frequently asked questions and answers.
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- Are there health and safety guidelines to help child care providers operate during COVID-19?
Yes. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has created Guidelines for Safe Child Care Operations During COVID-19.
This document provides tools to help providers make the best decisions possible to limit the spread of COVID-19 and to create safe spaces for children and staff members. We will continue to update the document based on our best knowledge and partner with the field to learn about how we fight this virus while providing quality child care.
Families should ask their child care providers what they’re doing to respond to COVID-19. All providers have a COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. Families can request to see these plans at any time.
- How can workers locate childcare that is open during the state of emergency
Workers that need help finding childcare should visit Help Me Grow or call 211 to complete the brief form explaining what they need.
Once the form is submitted, someone from your community will contact you within 48 hours to connect you with childcare providers that are open and have space to serve your children. This is a connection service. There will be a charge for childcare.
- How can child care providers support social emotional and mental health as children and staff return to care?
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has created a Child Care Provider Toolkit with a variety of social emotional resources to support adults caring for young children in the child care environment:
- Toolkit Memo/Overview
- Letter from Michigan’s Social Emotional Consultation Team to Child Care Providers
- #ConnectedCaregiving Social Media Images/Text Samples
- 2 minute video clip – “Connected Care giving Through a Pandemic”
- 26 minute webinar – “Back to Business as Usual? Connected Care giving Through a Pandemic”
- Back to Business PowerPoint (I moved this to under the webinar since it references that content)
Michigan’s Social Emotional Consultants are also available to speak with you twice a week! Join them for free on Zoom every Tuesday and Friday from 12:30-1:30 pm.
- Zoom Room ID: 782 239 6197
- Join by Phone: 301-715-8592 and enter room ID when prompted
- Is there signage child care providers can use to remind staff and families of how to stop the spread of COVID-19?
Yes. The state of Michigan and the CDC have several communication tools to help.
- Workplace safety guidelines, from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
- For employees: Know your rights, from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity
- Hand washing posters, from the CDC
Additional signage from the CDC (including translates into multiple languages
- Can child care providers still apply for the Child Care Relief Fund?
Yes. The Child Care Relief Fund is a grant program that helps child care providers cover costs during the COVID-19 state of emergency. The goal of the program is to help you stay in business and make child care more affordable for Michigan families. These grants are non-competitive and funds do not need to be repaid.
Providers can apply by visiting www.michigan.gov/childcare on your computer or mobile device. The application takes less than 10 minutes to complete! See our website for more information on how to apply. HINT: Using the resources at the website will help ensure your application is complete and accurate, which will help avoid processing delays.
- What financial assistance is available to help me sustain my childcare business?
All childcare providers play a critical role in providing safe places for children to grow and learn while supporting families in the community. We recognize the significant financial impact many providers have experienced during this state of emergency and are working to support you through:
- Subsidy payments – If you serve children and families receiving the childcare subsidy, the Michigan Department of Education has implemented new policies to help during the COVID-19 state of emergency. See the questions on this page related to the Child Development and Care Program for more details.
- Unemployment insurance – If providers make the difficult decision to lay off staff, or you are self-employed, unemployment insurance is available to help. See the questions on this page related to unemployment insurance for details about how to file a claim.
- How do childcare employees file for unemployment insurance
The fastest and preferred method is to file for unemployment insurance benefits online using the Michigan Web Account Manager (MiWAM) at Michigan.gov/UIA.
MiWAM is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You must first sign in to MILogin to access or create a MiWAM account. For step by step instructions, view the MiWAM Toolkit for Claimants. You may also file by phone at 1-866-500-0017. If you are hearing impaired, TTY service is available at 1-866-366-0004.
For more information about how to file for unemployment benefits, visit Michigan.gov/UIA.
- I still have questions about unemployment and my childcare business. Where can I get help?
We encourage you to visit the Michigan.gov/UIA for more information.
If you still have questions, you can contact the call center at 1-866-500-0017. Please use the following schedule to make calls:
- Last name A-L: Call on Monday and Wednesday
- Last name M-Z: Call on Tuesday and Thursday
- If you miss your day, call on Friday and Saturday
We are aware that phone calls to the Unemployment Insurance Agency may be resulting in busy signals for callers and that the online system may be responding slowly. We encourage you to continue with your attempts to file a claim on the designated day of your last name and to go online on off-peak hours, from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- I am a childcare provider, and I am having trouble locating healthy food for children in my care. What should I do?
If you are having difficulty locating food items, start by substituting items on your menu for healthy alternatives. For example:
- Fruits and vegetables. Look for frozen and canned options for items, including canned or jarred applesauce, pears, peaches, pineapple. Frozen berries and frozen fruit are also good options. Remember, too, you can sub out a second different vegetable at lunch and supper, so you could utilize canned and frozen vegetables and serve fruit less often
- Grains. Consider using pasta, rice, macaroni, oatmeal, cereal (in the sugar limit). Wraps, buns, English muffins, bread sticks, crackers, and plain graham crackers may be used too. Whole grain is served once a day. Crackers are a good option. Look for store brand versions versus name brand
- Meat. Consider frozen options including frozen fish, frozen chicken strips, and beef patties. For tacos, consider using vegetarian refried beans, black beans, kidney beans with cheese
In addition, family/group home providers can get healthy meals and snacks free of charge by visiting a Meet Up and Eat Up site in their community. All school districts and some community-based organizations are offering drive through meal pick up now through summer 2020.
You can find a site near you by visiting your local school district’s website, texting ‘food’ to 877-877, or visiting mcgi.state.mi.us/schoolnutrition. Once you’ve located a site, visit the food distribution site during their operating hours, report how many children you serve, and they will provide meals. No additional documentation is necessary. Food is suitable for children who eat solid food. Formula and food for infants is generally not available.
Reminder: If you are a CACFP provider, you may not charge CACFP for meals you did not purchase.
- My families are struggling with food access. What programs are available to them?
All children under 18 years of age, regardless of income, are eligible to pick up meals provided by their local school district. The Michigan Department of Education maintains a map of open sites. The map includes addresses for available sites and when they are open for food service.
Families can also apply for food assistance (including SNAP and WIC) on MiBridges.
- There is limited access to some food in my community. Is CACFP offering any guidance on what to do about limited supplies of milk, bread, and other nutritious food?
Guidance from the Michigan Department of Education explains that meals served are required to have all required components that meet the meal pattern requirements. Nutrition is key to maintaining health and wellness, especially during a public health crisis. Can you substitute another item from the same group? For instance, if you cannot find whole wheat bread, substitute a tortilla, a wrap, crackers, rice or pasta. Fresh, frozen, and canned foods can also be used. If you cannot obtain a required component, meals served without a required component must be approved by the CACFP. Please contact Melissa Lonsberry.
- What guidance has been issued by the Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP)?
The Michigan Department of Education has issued guidance about feeding children in child nutrition programs during the state of emergency.
- Where can I find additional information about the child care subsidy?
Families and providers can find the latest information about the Child Development and Care Program, commonly called the child care subsidy, at Michigan.gov/Childcare.
- Can families still apply for the childcare subsidy?
Yes. Families can still apply for the Child Development and Care program (commonly called the Childcare Subsidy) at newmibridges.michigan.gov.
