The Alexandria Emergency Child Care Collaborative and Smart Beginnings Alexandria are hosting an online “Virtual Child Care Open House” on August 19, from 7-8:30 p.m., to showcase current child care programs available in Alexandria.
As working families continue to telework or work on site, securing viable child care remains a high priority. Yet many are facing challenges. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, some families were able to turn to older relatives or neighbors as a back up, but now older adults are advised to maintain physical distance from children and others as they are at higher risk of complications from the virus. For other families, the child care options they used before the pandemic are no longer operating.
During the event, 10 local child care and out of school time providers will provide a video walk-thru of their facilities and a presentation about their services. Participating child care programs, preschools and family day home providers include:
-
Happy Home Christian Leadership Academy for Early Learners
-
Creative Play School
-
City of Alexandria Head Start
-
ACPS Early Learning Center
-
Hopkins House
-
Child and Family Network Centers
-
Ravona Berkley-Jones Family Day Home
-
Kenia Velasco Family Day Home
Out of school time providers also participating include:
-
The Campagna Center (Campagna Kids)
-
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington
Register for the event at alexandriaheadstart.eventbrite.com.
The Alexandria Emergency Child Care Collaborative, which was formed to support essential workers in need of child care who have exhausted all other non-group care options, now supports all families in need of care and works to match them with open providers. Families in need can complete a registration form assessing their needs, and the Collaborative will notify them of potential care providers and provide directions on how best to reach the provider to arrange enrollment. Child care providers available to offer emergency child care or that have the capacity in their existing programs to meet the needs of essential workers are encouraged to register as well.
Smart Beginnings Alexandria, a local chapter of the Virginia-wide Smart Beginnings network, is a partnership of organizations and individuals in Alexandria, including DCHS, that work together to foster comprehensive support, care and education for Alexandria’s youngest children. Families seeking child care can learn about local providers as well as find local resources and opportunities for activities, healthcare and child development at sbalexandria.org.
For more information about the event, contact Robin Crawley at robin.crawley@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5927.