Local child care provider adjusts to changing capacity restrictions
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A local child care company is making changes after the state relaxed some of the child capacity restrictions Thursday.
Tiger Tots Child Care is making temporary spots available for health care workers' children and will suspend deposits so they can make it easier for those workers to continue working.
This comes after the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services announces it took steps Thursday to help child care providers and families during the COVID-19 outbreak.
According to a news release, the department's Section for Child Care Regulation is allowing licensed child care providers to use rules created for emergency school closings.
This means licensed providers can accommodate enrolled students who need care. It also means providers are allowed to go over the facility's license capacity by one-third. It's also allowing providers to extend their hours of care.
Paul Prevo, Tiger Tots owner, said many parents have been thankful that Tiger Tots is open and willing to take in more children so they can continue to go to work and provide for their families.
“While some places are closing down others are remaining open and we have to have an increased capacity availability,” Prevo said. “So that all the essential services, as well as those people working at grocery stores and the gas stations and everywhere else that’s needed, can make sure they can get to work as well.”
Child care short-term licenses for a 45-day period are available. Officials said the licenses are based on an inspection centered around health and safety indicators.
The Department of Social Services is letting its child care subsidy program pay for additional hours of care for a child's attendance due to school closure or the parent is required to work extra hours.
“You have the governor who’s helping to relax some of the regulations to make sure there are extra people available to help watch kids,” Prevo said.
These steps come after Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday afternoon that all public and charter schools in the state had closed because of COVID-19.
Child care providers can find more information on the state health department's website.
Check back for more on this developing story here and on ABC 17 News at 6 p.m. and 6:30 pm.
