TEAM, Inc.: Child Care is Changing And Will Need To Stay Sustainable For Our Communities To Thrive.
COVID-19 has exposed the critical value of child care for our families and our economy. Local, state and federal governments have identified child care for front line employees as an essential service alongside health, utilities and food delivery systems. Through their joint COVID-19 Response Fund, Connecticut Community Foundation and United Way of Greater Waterbury have provided a $20,000 grant that will enable Team, Inc. to support home-based family child care providers in greater Waterbury in order to ensure they can remain open and viable in the long-term.
The grant will provide PPE and cleaning supplies to Family Child Care Homes, ensuring they can follow stringent cleaning and deep-cleaning protocols and ensure the health and safety of children and employees. The support will enable these critical community resources to remain open or re-open to care for the children of essential workers and others returning to their workplaces.
Family Child Care Homes are small, independent child care entities, many of which were already economically vulnerable prior to the public health crisis, yet they are critical to providing effective early childhood access and culturally responsive childcare options for families from all walks of life throughout the Waterbury and the greater Waterbury region.
Dave Morgan, President & CEO of TEAM Inc. states, “I am so grateful for this Fund’s response to the greatest need of the Family Child Care Homes in Waterbury – it is making a meaningful difference for more than 30 Family Child Care Homes, and when looking at the larger picture of this initiative we continue to convene on a weekly basis as we assess priorities and determine solutions in navigating the current and long-term financial impacts of COVID-19 to the Family Child Care Homes.”
Along with the PPE & cleaning supplies, long-term fiscal solvency is the other top priority for TEAM, Inc.’s Child Care program. Morgan acknowledges that this early childhood system is critically needed as part of the economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. Through Team Inc.’s work and support, the Family Child Care Homes continue to gain confidence and resolve as they work together in the weeks and months ahead.
