Are Ohio day cares ready to reopen? Here’s how some in the Valley are working

YOUNGSTOWN — Mahoning Valley child care providers who are able to continue operating during the COVID-19 pandemic said they're facing a whole new set of challenges.

Other providers looking to reopen under new yet-to-be announced state guidelines should start preparing now, they said.

Despite signaling a Monday announcement on the reopening of child care centers in the state, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the state's not there just yet.

"Reopening child care centers is simply too important without making certain we have all the best information; we have all the best protocols in place," he said during a Monday briefing on the state's coronavirus response. "We continue to gather this information and it will not be long until we'll be in a position to make the announcement."

Only child care centers that have received a temporary state license to operate during the pandemic have remained open, albeit with smaller class sizes and priority placement for nurses, first responders and other essential workers. There are 53 such facilities in the Mahoning Valley.

New procedures

Each day the almost 50 children still enrolled at Tiny Faces Childcare along Redondo Road in Youngstown are ushered from a temperature reading at the front door to a hand-washing sink, while their parents are asked to stay in the foyer, said owner Desate Burkley. When children aged 3 or older have allergies or common cold symptoms that cause them to cough or sneeze, she said she'll talk with their parents about giving them a youth-sized mask to wear.

Tiny Faces' food menu has also changed due to pandemic-related shortages, and though its classrooms are deep-cleaned every two hours, necessary cleaning supplies are still hard to come by, she said.

Tracy Jordan, owner of Happy Campers Learning Center along Indianola Avenue in Youngstown, said though there's a new sanitizing station at the front entrance, her facility also is pinched for disinfectant wipes and other sanitization products. And moreso, products that are affordable. She spotted a gallon of rubbing alcohol online going for $45.

Burkley recommended day cares looking to reopen soon should start stocking up on masks and extra cleaning supplies, as well as hand sanitizer. She also suggested facilities review their own rules on cleaning and pickups and dropoffs to see how they can be adapted.

Anxiety takes a toll

Jordan said the children in her charge are dealing with something that won't wash off. She's been documenting their behavioral changes since Happy Campers became a pandemic-approved facility in late March. Some 6- or 7-year-olds have begun asking about the daily COVID-19 death toll. She said she sees their anxiety affecting their sleep patterns.

"Outside of social distancing, it's a lot of social anxiety going on amongst our children," Jordan said. "They're scared. They don't know what to expect."

Their grades are dropping because they haven't been inside a classroom in nearly two months, she added.

"We have to be there for them emotionally. We have to be prepared ... to deal with some different [behaviors]," Jordan said. "We can't come in here down in the dumps and depressed and let the [virus statistics] put fear in us. We have to put faith over fear."

Smaller headcounts

In keeping with new state guidelines, children are taught in much smaller class sizes than usual and kept in the same rooms with relatives or other children whose parents are co-workers in the same rooms. With several sibling groups enrolled at Tiny Faces, it makes it tough to keep classes under the state's six-child limit, Burkley said.

All the providers who spoke Monday with Mahoning Matters said their average headcounts are just a fraction of what they usually are — partially because only essential workers may enroll their children and partially because parents are still concerned about leaving their children in a congregate setting, Jordan said.

The Jewish Community Center of Youngstown's Early Learning Center along Gypsy Lane has about 50 enrolled when usually it's upward of 130. The program is now operating at a deficit and Mike Rawl, the center's executive director, said he's hoping for government assistance.

“We have pharmacists’ children. We have children from mental health facilities. We have someone who works at a gas station and needs child care. These are all things are vital. That’s something I really learned as time went on, that it’s really quite a broader perspective,” said Rawl.

As the definition of “essential worker" is expected to change — expanding the number of eligible enrollees — the center is preparing to increase capacity by expanding into the adjacent school, Akiva Academy, and preparing to hire additional teachers, Rawl said.

“When we were starting this at the very early stages, we’re imagining that we have the children of ER doctors and ER nurses, and the truth is that there are a lot of people who are essential that it takes to operate this economy,” he said.

Day care vs. benefits

Before the pandemic, Tiny Faces could enroll up to 110 children and had, on average, 75, Burkley said. Now there are 47 enrollees and only four slots remaining, she said.

"As the weeks have gone by, it's tough for parents to continue to stay at home or get someone else to watch their children," said Burkley. "Now, they're reaching out. I'm getting phone calls probably every other day inquiring about enrollment."

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted on Monday wasn't able to answer whether pandemic unemployment assistance would be extended to parents whose jobs have returned but who choose to stay home and care for their children.

Kim Hall, director of Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, told reporters Monday though the state has created a "COVID-19 Fraud" portal for employers to report workers whose jobs have come back online but who haven't returned to work, the restart guidelines are still under evaluation.

At least right now, "No benefits are being denied as a result of a person's decision not to return to work," she said.

As with other private sectors slated for reopening, nuances remain unexplored, providers said.

Burkley said she's wondering if the state's required ratio of one caregiver for every six children will hold. She cautioned against relaxing that ratio, which is normally one to 18.

While Rawl said other local child care facilities have not reached out to JCC for guidance, the organization has been in contact with other United Way organizations and its JCC counterparts across the country. He said he's also waiting for guidance from the state regarding other JCC programming — like its summer camp and pool.

“I think that it is very important that the government gives us clear guidelines. I believe that we can adapt but we can’t do so without advanced notice and without clear parameters,” Rawl said. “There’s a solution to all the problems. The question is, 'What am I allowed to do?'”

Here are other recent developments around the state and nation:

• According to the latest figures Monday from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 23,400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. There have been 1,141 confirmed cases in Mahoning County; 408 in Trumbull County; and 336 in Columbiana County.

• Statewide, there have been 1,236 confirmed deaths, including 124 in Mahoning County; 35 in Trumbull; and 37 in Columbiana. Mahoning County's 124 reported COVID-19 deaths on Monday was fourth among Ohio's 88 counties; Lucas County had 165; Cuyahoga County reported 147 deaths; Lucas County also had 124 deaths.

• The City of Youngstown on Monday reported 251 total cases, including 52 hospitalizations and 16 deaths.

• The federal Bureau of Prisons on Monday reported 104 active cases at Federal Correctional Institution Elkton in Lisbon, including 92 cases among inmates and 12 among staff, and nine inmate deaths, which is the highest among all federal prisons with reported cases. The bureau also reported 45 inmates and 40 employees have recovered from COVID-19.

• After nearly two months of being stuck at home, Ohioans will have the opportunity to shop, get haircuts and eat at a restaurant starting this week. Retail stores are permitted to open Tuesday. Salons, barbershops and day spas are permitted to reopen Friday. Most workers must wear masks; customers should and stores may mandate their use.

• Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Monday announced a liquor rebate program to allow bars and restaurants to defray the costs of restocking their inventory of spirits ahead of planned restarts of outdoor dining on May 14 and indoor dining on May 21. The $500 rebate would be immediately applied when placing an order from an assigned liquor agency, he said. They can be used beginning in mid-May.

• DeWine on Monday also said Ohio Department of Medicaid Director Maureen Corcoran would speak during today's daily coronavirus briefing on a "holistic" COVID-19 response plan for Ohio's nursing homes, which DeWine suggested would address shortages of personal protective equipment, "robust" testing initiatives for virus "hot spots" and partnerships with hospital systems. When asked by reporters whether the state would be able to comply with President Donald Trump's call Monday to test all nursing home residents and employees within the next two weeks, DeWine said, "I don't know if that's going to get done."

• Dr. Amy Acton, Ohio Department of Health director, announced the state will soon begin voluntary, random sampling of Ohioans to gauge the virus' community prevalence. The state has secured 1,200 tests for that purpose. Acton said postcards and letters will be mailed to residents to allow them to opt-in. Medical professionals would visit the participants' homes to conduct nasal swab and blood tests, she said.

• Fitz Frames has shifted its focus from making kids glasses to manufacturing protective eyewear for frontline medical workers at its manufacturing facility at the Youngstown Business Incubator. Right now, there are more than 3,200 people the company's waiting list.

• Mercy Health is receiving $25.4 million in funding from the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to continue providing COVID-19 health services to the Mahoning Valley.

• In nearby counties: Stark, 511 cases and 67 deaths; Portage, 280 cases and 46 deaths; and Ashtabula, 193 cases and 19 deaths.

• According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Monday, there are 57,154 COVID-19 cases in the state which have led to 3,731 deaths. There are 70 cases in Lawrence County with 7 deaths; 75 cases in Mercer County with 2 deaths.

• Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf warned counties that forge ahead of his phased economic reopening schedule will face serious consequences. The Department of Health helped develop guidelines for moving counties from red phase – which imposes widespread business closures and stay-at-home orders – to the yellow phase.

This story was originally published May 12, 2020 at 3:52 AM with the headline "Are Ohio day cares ready to reopen? Here’s how some in the Valley are working."