The University of Mississippi’s Center for Research Evaluation (CERE) surveyed 1,220 licensed childcare centers not affiliated with Head Start or Early Head Start during the first two weeks of May to determine how the COVID -19 Pandemic impacted their economic health. Between May 5 and 11, 35% of Mississippi-based center directors responded to the online survey. The Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning at the University partnered with CERE in the review of the results and recommendations. The report was released on May 19 and has been made available to elected officials as well as early childhood advocates, state agency directors and child care providers.
Key points are as follows: As of May 11:
- 55% of licensed childcare centers in Mississippi are closed or operating on a limited basis,
- 42% of centers have lost at least half of their revenue, 51% of centers cannot pay even half of their monthly expenses,
- 72% of the centers responding indicated they cannot afford to pay all of their monthly expenses.
The evidence is clear; the child care industry in the state appears to be drowning without allocation of the federal funds targeted for their recovery being made directly to centers. The Mississippi Department of Human Services is working to determine the fastest and least restrictive way for the much needed funding to be released to centers and targeted to the meet the greatest needs, but time is truly of the essence. The immediate situation is indeed a crisis.
Much attention has been focused on opening businesses, educational institutions and recreational venues. All of the businesses depend on workers to be on the job every day with no distractions. How big of a distraction will occur when the worker has children under school age and no child care center for them to attend? What about school age children who are older but still too young to stay at home alone? Where will they spend their days this summer if child care centers with after school and summer programs for school age children are not available? Child care is an essential business and, in planning for the state’s economic recovery, the smart thing will be to include the industry as exactly that, an essential industry and not an after thought as it has been in the past.
On May 22, Governor Tate Reeves indicated he is signing a bill that will create a $300 million grant program for small businesses hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an important step for the child care industry as it was recognized as an eligible small business for making application to receive funding. Details have not been released as to how the applications will be received or the length of time it will take for payments to reach child care owners.
As the survey data indicate, the centers are on life support and need help now. The wolf is literally at the door and there is not much time left.
by Dr. Cathy Grace