Child Care is considered an essential service in Mississippi according to Governor Reeves. He commented at a press conference on March 24 that workers in the health care field and other professions that are called into work daily to preserve the health and safety of the population need child care services to be able to do their jobs. He asked the rhetorical question, “What if the child care centers shut down, how would health care workers do their jobs?”
I applaud the Governor for acknowledging the importance of child care during this critical time. Based on his recognition of the industry’s importance in making all aspects of government and business function, the current COVID-19 Economic Stimulus bill in Congress is in the process of high level negotiations. Some of the sticking points involve the benefits extended to corporations versus those to low and middle income service workers such as those in the service and child care industries.
During the Hurricane Katrina recovery process, we quickly discovered that the child care industry was a critical component in setting the course for economic recovery. While this health crisis is very different in many ways, it is similar as certain small businesses are recognized as deserving of help and support to stay financially afloat now and after this crisis has subsided and we begin to recover financially, emotionally and physically.
National early care and education associations have reviewed the impact COVD-19 will have on the child care industry and compiled a document that pushes for the support of the industry in Mississippi and across the country. Whether Mississippians are directly involved with child care, be it in a licensed child care family home or a licensed center, we are affected by what happens to the operation of child care now and in the future. Consider after the COVID-19 subsides, extremely limited medical staff on the job in clinics, emergency rooms and pharmacies, no restaurant services-even pick-up, amended work schedules in factories, no gyms or limited operations of nail and hair salons, limited hours for gas station access and the list goes on and on. If workers in all the fields mentioned as well as hundreds more are dependent on child care that is permanently closed due to lack of financial support that corporations receive in their recovery, why invest in corporate recovery at all? Workers without child care will be absent workers.
Income will drop among child care businesses as a result of families sheltering in place, as has been advised by health professionals, but rent still has to be paid on the building. Will employees be sent home with no pay because of loss of income with no federal financial support when other industries are provided support for workers while those places of business experience a loss of income?
It is past time Mississippians as well as the country as a whole, recognize the child care industry is essential and should be treated that way at the local, state and federal level. Our Congressional delegation needs to hear from us now on how they should address financial recovery options for all small businesses and especially those deemed essential such as the child care industry.
by Dr. Cathy Grace