From healthcare workers to law enforcement personnel to government employees, individuals on the frontline are working tirelessly to care for and provide services to people all over the state of Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
And many of them are doing it while balancing their own families. Parents in Macomb County who are struggling to find child care for their children during this time can turn to the Macomb Intermediate School District, which, in conjunction with Macomb Community Action, is offering emergency child care for children from birth to age 12.
“The Macomb Intermediate School District is pleased to be able to coordinate child care services for our essential workforce,” says JoAnne Elkin, Early Childhood/Early Literacy Consultant at the Macomb Intermediate School District. “It’s important that essential workers have access to child care during this unprecedented time – especially while schools are closed.”
And the MISD plans to offer this service as long as it is needed, Elkin adds.
Read on for information on this child care offering for families of first responders in Macomb County.
Who is considered an essential worker?
There are a number of professions that fall under this the umbrella of essential workers, according to information from the MISD.
Health care workers, home health workers, direct care workers, emergency medical service providers, first responders, law enforcement personnel, sanitation workers, child care workers (including any employees acting as child care workers in essential workforce child care centers), personnel providing correctional services, postal workers, public health employees, key government employees, court personnel, and others providing critical infrastructure to Michiganders (including utilities, manufacturing, mass transit, and groceries or other essential supplies, goods or equipment).
Key government employees includes child protective services workers, child welfare workers, foster care workers including those from contracted agencies, recipient rights workers, employees of the Executive Office of the governor, cabinet officers and their designees, Department of Health and Human Services field office staff, Unemployment Insurance Agency employees, and other employees identified by the Department of Technology, Management, and Budget.
Sites and safety
Child care sites have been determined based on proximity to Ascension Macomb, location in Warren; Henry Ford Macomb in Clinton Township and McLaren Macomb in Mount Clemens, in addition to sites in northern, middle and southern parts of Macomb County.
Safety is top of mind for both children and the employees operating each child care center. Per Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order, a disaster relief child care center must evaluate the health of all people who enter the center, and they must do so every time they attempt to enter the center. If they do not meet evaluation criteria, they are prohibited from entering the child care center. If they are showing symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat; or have had contact in the last 14 days with someone with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, they cannot enter the center, Elkin notes.
Contacting the MISD
There are three ways for essential workers to reach out to the MISD for more information on the Macomb ISD Emergency Child Care Plan: phone, email or online.
Call Kelly Adamek or Sherine Katba at the Macomb ISD at 586-412-2676 to inquiry about this child care offering. Or, send an email to one of three Macomb ISD Emergency Child Care Coordinators below:
- Kelly Adamek at kadamek@misd.net
- JoAnne Elkin at jelkin@misd.net
- Sherine Katba at skatba@misd.net
Or, fill out the Essential Worker Child Care Intake form here.
For more information on the Macomb Intermediate School District, visit the MISD website.
