COVID-19 Related Resources for Child Care Providers

To support child care providers affected by COVID-19 stay-at-home orders, the City of Irvine has gathered the following resource links. These links are for organizations outside the City, and are collected here for your convenience. For more information on the City’s measures to prevent spread in our community, visit cityofirvine.org/covid19.​

Announcements/New Resources

Second Draw Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration is currently accepting Second Draw PPP loan applications from participating lenders. Please click here for more information. Learn more about the rollout of PPP and what your small business needs to know before you apply by participating in this free webinar on January 28: Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Round 2: What You Need to Know. Click here to register.

Round 2 – CA Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program

Applications for Round 2 will be accepted February 2-8, 2021 for assistance from the State of California for small businesses and non-profits impacted by COVID-19, including $500 million in grants. Visit CAReliefGrant.com to apply. Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000.  Any applicants not awarded in Round 1, but eligible, will be automatically considered for the second round. You do not need to reapply. With more than 300,000 applications successfully completed during Round 1, application approval notifications will be sent out through Friday, January 22, 2021. For any questions, please call the State of California’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-422-4255 or the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development at 877-345-4633.

Irvine Launches 3rd District Small Business Support Program

The City of Irvine received $722,000 from the County of Orange to assist small businesses effected by COVID-19 within the Irvine portion of Orange County’s Third Supervisorial District. One-time grants up to $5,000 are available to eligible small businesses to help cover the costs of business interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and related Stay-At-Home Orders. Additional information about the 3rd District Small Business Grant Program is available at cityofirvine.org/thirddistrictgrantprogram.

Tax Relief for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

California will provide temporary tax relief for eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The temporary tax relief: 

1. Entails an automatic three-month income tax extension for taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax.

2. Extends the availability of existing interest and penalty-free payment agreements to companies with up to $5 million in taxable sales.

3. Provides expanded interest free payment options for larger businesses particularly affected by significant restrictions on operations based on COVID-19 transmissions. 

Governor Newsom’s announcement builds on the state’s ongoing business support throughout the pandemic, including the Main Street Hiring Tax Credit, which authorizes $100 million in hiring tax credit for qualified small businesses. The credit is equal to $1,000 per qualified employee, up to $100,000 for each small business employer. The application for the Main Street Small Business Tax Credit opened on December 1. A full list of existing state support for businesses can be found here.

COVID-19 Exposure - Child Care Reporting and Best Practices

Child care providers must report any positive COVID-19 cases they become aware of in any individual that has been on their program site within the past fourteen days to the Orange County Health Care Agency and the State of California Community Care Licensing Division. To view details regarding next steps if you are notified of a positive case in a staff member, participant or anyone who has been present in your program please, click here.

COVID-19 Licensed Child Care Facilities and Providers (FAQs)

Answers from California Community Care Licensing Division to many of your COVID-19 related questions.

Essential Protective Gear and Supplies

OC Emergency Child Care Task Force

If your child care program is open or plans to reopen soon PLEASE make sure your program information is updated in the searchable database of currently open child care centers and family child care homes compiled by Early Childhood OC, even if your program is already listed on the City of Irvine child care webpage. This list is utilized by the OC Emergency Child Care Task Force to communicate distribution of cleaning supplies as well as for families to find child care. 

If you are open (or plan to open in the next two weeks), and have not done so already, please complete this form: Early Childhood OC COVID-19 Child Care Questionnaire.

Also, please ensure that both Children’s Home Society of CA and Community Care Licensing has your updated contact information including phone number and email. 

CCL: 714-703-2800
CHS: 714-456-9800

General Information

• State of California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division:

  • COVID-19 Licensed Child Care Facilities and Providers (FAQs)
  • Child Care Licensing COVID-19 Child Care Resources 
  • Quarterly Updates

• PowerPoint from the October 20 Orange County Local Licensing Call

• State of California Guidance for the Childcare Industry: Follow the guidance for the childcare industry to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for childcare in your facility to show employees and families that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for operation.

  • Follow the guidance related to cohorts of children and youth.
  • See the answers to frequently asked questions about cohorts and waivers for childcare providers.
     
• Orange County Health Care Agency:
  • OC Health Officers Orders and Recommendations 
  • COVID Schools Response Team COVID Schools Consultation Services
     
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Schools and Child Care Programs
   
• Early Childhood OC: COVID-19 and Children
   
• Child Care Law Center: Questions & Answers about the Impact of the Coronavirus on Child Care in California
  • What is a tele-visit from Licensing? See Question #6 under Licensing, Health and Safety
  • Should I ask parents to sign a waiver of liability? See Question #9 under Licensing, Health and Safety
  • How do I certify for a continued claim for unemployment with EDD? See the bottom of Question #22 under Business and Financial Supports
     
• Webinar from Child Care Aware of America: Coronavirus: Resources for Child Care and Advice from the Field
   
• Webinar from Early Childhood Investigations: Bracing for COVID-19: What Early Childhood Programs Need to Know and Consider Now

Program Open/Reopening

• State of California Guidance for the Childcare Industry: Follow the guidance for the childcare industry to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Review the guidance, prepare a plan, and post the checklist for childcare in your facility to show employees and families that you’ve reduced the risk and are open for operation.

  • Follow the guidance related to cohorts of children and youth.
  • See the answers to frequently asked questions about cohorts and waivers for childcare providers

• Orange County Health Care Agency: COVID Schools Consultation Services.

• Centers for Disease Control: Public Health Considerations for Reopening Child Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Child Care Exchange: Keys to Rebuilding Enrollment Post COVID-19

• California Early Childhood Mentor Program: Practical Tips for Reopening Child Care. Click here to register for June 23 online Zoom event.

• Every Child California: COVID-19 Resource Page

  • Scroll down to EveryChild California Webinars to view the following resources: “Opening and Reopening Webinar”, PowerPoint, COVID-19 Re-opening Checklist, Safety Health Guidance, CDC Health Check.
     
• Child Care Aware: Grab, Adapt and Go COVID-19 Resources for Child Care Program 
   
  • Guidance and customizable forms from Child Care Aware. Click the link then scroll down under the photo and blog post to find list of linked documents for download.
    ​
• Orange County Emergency Child Care Task Force: COVID-19 Child Care Informational Webinar and Question and Answer Document.

• California Inclusion and Behavior Consultation Network: COVID Virtual Consultation Flier

• California Early Childhood Online (CECO): COVID-19 Health and Safety Training

Keep your staff and families safe and healthy! Watch these free trainings on California Early Childhood Online (CECO). To access, log in to CECO, go to "Browse All Modules", and select COVID-19 to access "COVID-19 Health & Safety" and "Trauma-Informed Care: Nurturing Resilience and Connection During COVID-19". When finished, participants can download a COVID-19 Health and Safety Certificate.

• Early Childhood OC: Clean, Disinfect, and Sanitize Health Guidance

Printable step-by-step directions, cleaning routine sample schedule, and general health guidance.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Schools and Child Care Programs

Includes cleaning and disinfecting information as well as additional guidance to plan, prepare and respond.

Reports on the Status of Child Care

• Center for the Study of Child Care Employment, University of California Berkeley: California Child Care in Crisis: COVID-19 Impacts Escalate as California Reopens

Financial Resources

• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): SBA Loans: Frequently Asked Questions Resource
• NAEYC: Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL): What Child Care Programs Need to Know
• Child Care Aware Webinar Recording: Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Updates and Business Resources for Early Childhood Programs
• Hinge Early Education Brokers Webinar Recording: Legislative Initiatives and Your Childcare Business.
• U.S. Small Business Administration: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide and Checklist
• Employment Development Department, State of California: Coronavirus 2019 Resources for Employers and Workers
• GoFundMe: GoFundMe Small Business Relief Initiative
• California School-Age Consortium: COVID-19 Resources (including emergency funding resources)

Additional City Resources

Events and Training: The Child Care Coordination Office compiles this list of workshops and events for early care and education professionals to enhance the quality of child care in Irvine. Many of these events would also be beneficial for families having young children. In order to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus, all training and events listed are virtual. 

Finding Child Care: Permitted workers in need of child care can view all open programs in Irvine via an interactive map and lists of family child care and center based programs and access a searchable Countywide database of currently open child care centers and family child care homes serving children aged birth–12 compiled by Early Childhood OC. This database is updated every Friday.

Virtual Community Center: Irvine's hub for educational resources on keeping your young ones entertained while continuing your child's schooling at home.

For more information, visit cityofirvine.org/covid19 or call Irvine Child Care Coordination Office directly at 949-724-6632.