COLUMBUS – As hospitals and other companies consider creating their own childcare centers to operate during the statewide school closures brought on by the coronavirus outbreak, Gov. Mike DeWine has signed an executive order establishing a temporary pandemic childcare license.
The Ohio Department of Health call center is open 7 days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to answer questions regarding COVID-19 at 1-833-4-ASK-ODH (1-833-427-5634).
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The order announced Tuesday would allow the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services to issue temporary licenses to existing childcare centers or newly-created ones to provide child care to families where parents work in the health, safety, and other essential fields.
The licenses would allow the centers to operate under reduced regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
NEWS RELEASE: ODJFS Implements Emergency Child Care Measures during COVID-19 Pandemic, https://t.co/w8cAkNlagM pic.twitter.com/uKTsoioEeg
— OhioJFS (@OhioJFS) March 17, 2020
“It is important that professionals who are essential to protecting the public, are able to ensure their families are have safe places to go while they are at work,” DeWine said.
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“Health care workers, first responders, and those working so hard to provide Ohioans with essential services are needed now more than ever. These measures will ensure that these families can maintain their work schedules, while resting assured that their children are safe,” said ODJFS director Kim Hall.
A previous executive order increased the number of children allowed to be supervised by child care staff, depending on the type of program and ages of children being served, Hall said.