Day 12: Child Care Is Essential.
In a letter dated March 21, New York State designated child care programs operated by the Office of Children and Family Services as “essential businesses”. As essential businesses, child care programs are exempt from the State’s telecommuting and work-from-home procedures. (See https://ocfs.ny.gov/main/childcare/letters.php ).
Across a variety of circumstances, high quality and affordable child care is indeed essential. Over the past several years during which I have grown my own family, I became privy to the important parenting decisions facing moms and dads alike:
Can we sustain our lifestyle (or even pay our bills) on a single salary?
Is there a retired grandparent or other relative nearby to watch our kids?
Do I have back-up child care if I can’t bring my child to day care due to illness?
Is the loss of one income more or less than the cost of full-time child care?
Which parent quits his or her job and which one picks up more hours at work?
How feasible is it to transition my skills to part-time work?
How difficult will it be to reintegrate into the workforce when the kids get older?
Can I defer my student loan payments in the meantime?
Single-parent households have no choice. And, for parents of children with special needs, these concerns are compounded by the need to find providers who are specifically trained or otherwise qualified to provide specialized care. A child’s difficulties with daily living activities, like feeding and hygiene, can make it beyond challenging for a parent to find the right babysitter or day care center at an affordable price.
For qualifying children and adults in our State, the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) coordinates a range of wraparound services, including clinical and therapeutic supports and in-home support for families. If you are not yet connected to OPWDD, or if your child has been denied eligibility, book a virtual consultation on my website, https://www.msrlegal.org/book-your-consultation. Continue to follow me on Instagram at @msrlegalconsulting for the latest updates on special needs parenting in the wake of Covid-19.
Until next time, stay safe,
Oroma
Disclaimer: Attorney advertising. None of the content on this blog is intended as or constitutes legal advice, nor does it indicate an intention or commitment to represent any particular parent.