NH DHHS Announces More Than 250 Providers Achieve Emergency Child Care Provider Designation

NH Department of Health and Human Services                               

129 Pleasant Street – Hugh Gallen State Office Park

Concord, NH 03301

PRESS RELEASE                                                                                                  FOR MORE INFORMATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            State Joint Information Center

April 9, 2020                                                                                                       603-223-6169 or jic@dos.nh.gov

NH DHHS Announces More Than 250 Providers Achieve Emergency Child Care Provider Designation 

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has announced that more than 250 child care programs statewide have been designated as emergency providers through the newly established Emergency Child Care Program (ECCP), created to support the families of essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, there are 262 emergency child care programs serving more than 5,500 children across the state.

The Emergency Child Care Program is working through New Hampshire’s referral partner, Child Care Aware NH (CCAofNH), to match emergency child care providers with the families who need them. CCofANH has conducted a statewide needs survey to identify what child care providers need for supplies, staff and funding, and has provided extensive COVID-19 resources to keep families informed of best health and safety practices. Individuals seeking emergency child care can view an interactive map created by Child Care Aware of America, which provides a snapshot of available child care programs in relation to New Hampshire hospitals and alternative health care facilities that have been set up across the state to manage a potential surge of COVID-19 cases.

In order to qualify as an Emergency Child Care Program, child care providers met criteria around proximity to hospitals and surge centers, number of slots available for the children of essential workers, hours of operation, and ability to serve vulnerable children. Child care programs will be eligible to apply for incentive payments, including funding to support pay differentials for staff, child care costs for child care professionals, and other operating costs that support an emergency child care system.

On March 26, Governor Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order #17, which included a list of designated business sectors that provide essential services and support to COVID-19 and the core missions of the State.

For more information about the Emergency Child Care Collaborative, please visit http://nh.childcareaware.org/. For questions about the program, email ECCP@dhhs.gov. For more information on COVID-19, please visit www.nh.gov/covid19.