Open Strong was developed by state early childhood advocates and the Alliance for Early Success to assist state advocates in raising key issues and questions and to provoke conversations and solutions that are particular to operating child care programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Our youngest children are experiencing this pandemic during the most critical period of their brain development, when they are laying the foundation for future learning and lifelong success. While the threat of the COVID-19 virus may be temporary, the impact on our youngest children and their families will be long lasting. Parents and caregivers should not have to choose between work and their children’s safety and healthy development.
A strong child care sector is necessary to bolster a robust economic recovery. With no child care, there is no recovery. This fundamental truth, however, must be balanced equally with the health and developmental needs of our future workforce, our children. State governments have a role in ensuring that essential child care infrastructure is in place to support working parents and child development — and, now, jumpstart the economy.This document was developed to assist state advocates in raising key issues and questions and to provoke conversations and solutions that are particular to operating child care programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
