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Child Care Providers and COVID-19: Paying the Bills and Helping Staff Pay Theirs

Posted on March 30, 2020

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During the last two weeks, ACNJ has received many emails and calls regarding a variety of issues and questions related to COVID-19 and its impact on New Jersey’s child care community. We have pulled together some resources to help provide a better understanding of the supports available for child care, now and in the future. In the meantime, the information below includes an update on the third federal stimulus package as well as some state resources on unemployment and small business assistance. ACNJ will share any additional information received from our state and national partners as it becomes available.

Recent Federal Supports

Last Friday, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act), a $2 trillion stimulus package, that provides relief to child care, unemployment and small businesses. Below are the relevant highlights, as reported by the National Women’s Law Center.

Child Care

$3.5 billion in emergency funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) will be available through September 30, 2021. States can use this funding to address critical child care needs. The Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) has estimated, that of the $3.5 billion in emergency CCDBG funding, New Jersey is estimated to receive $61,184,833, which can be used for:

  • Providing continued payments and assistance to child care providers in the case of decreased enrollment or closures related to the novel coronavirus, and to ensure they are able to remain open or reopen as appropriate;
  • Providing child care assistance, without regard to income, to health care sector employees, emergency responders, sanitation workers and other workers deemed essential during the response to the novel coronavirus; and
  • Providing funding to child care providers who were not participating in subsidy prior to the public health emergency for the purposes of cleaning and sanitation and other activities necessary to maintain or resume the operation of programs.

$750 million for Head Start

Unemployment Insurance (UI)

$250 billion in temporary enhancements to the UI system through 2020, including:

  • A $600 increase in the weekly UI checks of unemployed workers;
  • Special disaster relief program, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), that expands UI coverage to self-employed workers, gig workers and independent contractors; and
  • A temporary 13-week extension of UI benefits. This would be added to New Jersey’s existing 26 week UI benefits.

For more information read, Bipartisan Policy Center and the Committee on Economic Development One-Page Document on Unemployment Compensation and COVID19. 

Recovery Rebates

The legislation provides for direct payments to individuals called “recovery rebates”.

Taxpayers earning $75,000 and below will receive a $1,200 check. Married couples making $150,000 and below will receive $2,400. Individuals and couples under this earnings cap would also receive $500 per child who is 16 years or younger.

 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans/grants

$10 billion for SBA emergency grants to small businesses, including non-profits. Businesses with fewer than 500 employees could be eligible for up to $10 million in forgivable small business loans. For-profit small businesses, non-profit organizations, sole proprietors, independent contractors and self-employed individuals are all eligible. The loan period will extend from February 15, 2020 to June 30, 2020. Loans can be used for specific purposes, including wages, paid sick leave, family leave or health insurance benefits, mortgages, rent and utilities.  For more information, read The Bipartisan Policy Center and Committee for Economic Development summary

State Supports

If You Are a Child Care Owner

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) Small Business Emergency Assistance Grant: This money is for small and medium sized businesses and non-profits aimed at helping them support and maintain their employees during this period. The grants are up to $5,000 for businesses with 1-10 full-time employees.

NJEDA’s Small Business Emergency Assistance Guarantee Program: A $10 million pilot program that makes loans from Premier Lending bank to small businesses and non-profits that have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. The program provides a 50 percent guarantee, not to exceed a total NJEDA exposure of $100,000 to Premier Lenders that will issue working capital loans or lines of credit to support business continuity for a range of COVID-19-related impacts to businesses (reduced revenue, employee shortage, supply chain impact, etc.)

If You Are a Child Care Employee

Department Of Labor’s (DOL) Chart for COVID-19 Benefits. This easy-to-follow chart outlines COVID-19 related scenarios and benefits for specific employee situations.

DOL Benefits and the COVID-19: What Employees Should Know. Find a treasure trove of information on eligibility for:

If you have any questions, please contact needincomesupport@njcitizenaction.org.

Take Action: CensusSelfie Challenge

Posted on March 26, 2020

Policy Counsel Peter Chen and son Aviv filled out their Census to see a healthier Newark

Join us in advocating for a complete count this #2020Census! Challenge your friends and family to complete their questionnaires and take a #CensusSelfie:

  1. Take a photo of yourself completing your Census (make sure not to include your address or Census ID!).
  2. Post the photo to social media and tell us why you completed your Census! Make sure you use the hashtag #Census2020NJ and tag @acnjforkids. Here are some messages to include with your selfie:
  • I completed my #2020Census because we need fair funding for our hospitals, now more than ever. #Census2020NJ @acnjforkids
  • My children deserve 10 years worth of well-funded schools! Join me in taking the #CensusSelfie Challenge and fill out your form! #Census2020NJ @acnjforkids
  •  Completing your Census has never been easier! Fill it out online at 2020census.gov, call 844-330-2020, or mail it out. Visit census2020nj.org for more information on how you can help! #Census2020NJ @acnjforkids

3. Tag five friends and challenge them to fill out their Census today!

Want to take it a step further? Make your #CensusSelfie your Facebook profile picture and use our Census frame to let everyone in your network know that you count!

BLOG: School is in session – Homeschooling during a pandemic

Posted on March 26, 2020

Nina Peckman, Staff Attorney
Nina Peckman, Staff Attorney

The COVID-19 virus has transformed many household kitchens into temporary classrooms. Taking on the responsibility of a teacher, in addition to being a parent and meeting all other responsibilities is a daunting task. For a parent or caretaker of a student with learning issues, it may be even more overwhelming.

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has issued several guidance statements about a school district’s responsibilities during the novel coronavirus-related school closures. Per a March 16th guidance, education must be provided by school districts in a non-discriminatory manner. For example, students from poor and indigent families should have the same access to education services as students from wealthier families. For students with disabilities who do not receive services for an extended period of time, the IEP or 504 Team will have to decide whether or not the student will need additional education services (compensatory education) once students return to school.

A March 21st guidance states that federal laws (IDEA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and ADA requiring that students with disabilities be provided the same opportunities to learn as non-disabled peers) should not be used by schools to deny distance learning opportunities to all students, including students with disabilities. For students with an IEP or 504 plan, distance learning must meet the individual needs of the student to provide a free and appropriate education. The guidance also makes it clear that related services may be provided through a virtual meeting or through phone calls.

On March 23rd, the New Jersey Department of Education posted guidelines that echo the USDOE guidance with a suggestion to visit their website for further updates regarding education services. There is still uncertainty regarding how New Jersey’s education laws will be implemented. For example, there are concerns about how mediations and due process hearings will be conducted. In addition, there is uncertainty regarding the protocols and adequacy of teletherapies. ACNJ plans to keep our advocates informed of any ongoing education issues.

In the cases that I have been involved with in the past week, the child study teams and parents worked together to come up with a reasonable IEP plan under the circumstances. Education laws have not changed, but there will be barriers ahead that will require flexible and creative approaches to implement education programs, such as accommodating students whose families do not have internet access or laptops. Distance learning for some children with disabilities who need one-on-one assistance or have trouble concentrating may be challenging, but school staff can provide some training to parents through an IEP or 504 plan, acting as an additional support for children trying to learn at home.

Please feel free to contact me at npeckman@acnj.org or 973-643-3876, ext. 226 for legal questions and advocacy assistance throughout this pandemic.

NJ Department of Children and Families’ Response to COVID-19

Posted on March 25, 2020

On March 21st, Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order mandating all non-essential retail businesses temporarily close in order to halt the spread of COVID-19. Businesses, residents and government officials are still scrambling to adjust to the new normal until it is deemed safe to return to our daily lives, leaving many questions while the globe works to flatten the curve.

The New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF), which helps to support at-risk children and families, has taken measures to ensure the safety of both their employees and the families that they serve. Most staff is now ordered to work at home, being provided technical support as needed. As of now, all permanency, adoption and resource staff are working remotely. Visitations by child protective services will be conducted remotely instead of in-person, using daily phone calls, FaceTime and other means to maintain contact with the child and the birth family. In-person monthly or twice-monthly visits have been relaxed.

Members of the COVID-19 Response Teams, comprised of local office field staff, are located at the area offices to manage referrals from the state’s central screening hotline, as well as any high-risk permanency cases. A skeleton crew in local offices are helping with any clerical issues. Though some court cases are still conducted in person, that is also expected to end amid the pandemic.

Any notices regarding removing a child from DCF will indicate that hearings will be conducted remotely. A contact number for the caseworker will also be provided to help with communications for the parents on the scheduling of the hearing. As of right now, the state’s court system will be adjourning all fact-findings in child abuse and neglect cases, as well as termination of parental rights trials, though they are discussing if the system will have to resort to having trials remotely.

Additional guidance for employees and families will be offered as issues come up and will be posted on the department’s website. New Jersey is a mandatory reporting state. If you witness child abuse, call the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-877-652-2873.