Summit County Pandemic Child Care Information
SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO—In response to the COVID-19 situation, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) has implemented the Temporary Pandemic Child Care License, a new rule which sets the process and requirements for child care providers to operate under a special pandemic child care license. This temporary licensure will allow approved programs to serve children whose parents are employees providing health, safety and other essential services as defined by the Director of ODJFS in consultation with the Director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.
There is no application fee and these programs will not be required to be rated in Step Up To Quality in order to provide publicly funded child care. Payment for these programs will be determined through an agreement process with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
ODJFS must use discretion regarding the number of licenses approved based on need and pandemic health concerns. As a result, ODJFS will evaluate programs based on location, capacity, and the number of children currently being served with parents employed to provide health, safety or other essential services.
Summit County has approximately 60 centers approved for Pandemic Child Care. A frequently updated list of local providers can be found at http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/CoronavirusAndChildcareForFamilies/?fbclid=IwAR29A5YOyQ5FHvvIvAv3HGL9yDeMfNEvLV9omutA_064v8Vot9eaBFbUpYE
All child care programs, including Family Child Care (FCC) Home Providers, must close by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Only licensed or certified pandemic child care programs can provide child care beginning March 26, 2020. FCC Home Providers who are currently licensed and currently certified in-home aides can apply for a pandemic child care license.
Full press release: Summit County Pandemic Child Care