Delaware News

Governor Carney Signs Executive Order on Child Care

Delaware Health and Social Services | Department of Education | Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families | Governor John Carney | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Thursday, March 19, 2020



Order will allow flexibility to provide child care options for Delaware families, health care workers

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday signed Executive Order #38, which will allow the State of Delaware and providers flexibility to provide child care options for Delaware families and health care workers due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Read Governor Carney’s Executive Order #38.

“The coronavirus is taking a serious toll across our state, on families who are losing income, and child care providers who care for our youngest Delawareans every day,” said Governor Carney. “This Executive Order will help make sure Delawareans have access to child care over the long run, especially those healthcare workers who we need on the front lines of our state’s response. Every Delawarean should take this situation seriously. Our goal is to limit spread of the virus, and prevent a spike in cases that our health care system cannot handle. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces frequently. Stay home if you feel sick, even if you have mild symptoms. We’ll get through this. I want to also take this opportunity to thank our child care workers. We could not take on this challenge without you.”

Governor Carney’s Executive Order #38 gives the Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) the ability to suspend or modify provisions of the state’s childcare rules, regulations and statutes – as long as changes will not endanger the safety or welfare of a child. Under the Executive Order, DSCYF may work with existing providers to designate emergency childcare sites for children of health care workers, emergency medical staff, law enforcement, and other essential personnel. This change in regulatory process will last only as long as Governor Carney’s State of Emergency declaration remains in place.

Governor Carney, DSCYF Secretary Josette Manning, Department of Health and Social Services Secretary (DHSS) Kara Odom Walker, and Department of Education (DOE) Secretary Susan Bunting, also sent a letter to providers with further guidance on questions relating to Purchase of Care and health best practices. 

Delawareans with questions about COVID-19 or their exposure risk can call the Division of Public Health’s Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-408-1899, or 711 for people who are hearing impaired, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Delawareans can also email DPHCall@delaware.gov. 

For the latest on Delaware’s response, visit de.gov/coronavirus.

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Governor Carney Signs Executive Order on Child Care

Delaware Health and Social Services | Department of Education | Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families | Governor John Carney | Office of the Governor | Date Posted: Thursday, March 19, 2020



Order will allow flexibility to provide child care options for Delaware families, health care workers

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Thursday signed Executive Order #38, which will allow the State of Delaware and providers flexibility to provide child care options for Delaware families and health care workers due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Read Governor Carney’s Executive Order #38.

“The coronavirus is taking a serious toll across our state, on families who are losing income, and child care providers who care for our youngest Delawareans every day,” said Governor Carney. “This Executive Order will help make sure Delawareans have access to child care over the long run, especially those healthcare workers who we need on the front lines of our state’s response. Every Delawarean should take this situation seriously. Our goal is to limit spread of the virus, and prevent a spike in cases that our health care system cannot handle. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces frequently. Stay home if you feel sick, even if you have mild symptoms. We’ll get through this. I want to also take this opportunity to thank our child care workers. We could not take on this challenge without you.”

Governor Carney’s Executive Order #38 gives the Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families (DSCYF) the ability to suspend or modify provisions of the state’s childcare rules, regulations and statutes – as long as changes will not endanger the safety or welfare of a child. Under the Executive Order, DSCYF may work with existing providers to designate emergency childcare sites for children of health care workers, emergency medical staff, law enforcement, and other essential personnel. This change in regulatory process will last only as long as Governor Carney’s State of Emergency declaration remains in place.

Governor Carney, DSCYF Secretary Josette Manning, Department of Health and Social Services Secretary (DHSS) Kara Odom Walker, and Department of Education (DOE) Secretary Susan Bunting, also sent a letter to providers with further guidance on questions relating to Purchase of Care and health best practices. 

Delawareans with questions about COVID-19 or their exposure risk can call the Division of Public Health’s Coronavirus Call Center at 1-866-408-1899, or 711 for people who are hearing impaired, from 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Delawareans can also email DPHCall@delaware.gov. 

For the latest on Delaware’s response, visit de.gov/coronavirus.

###

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.