On-site Child Care Operations During COVID-19
Updated April 21, 2022
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, the WorkLife Office (WLO) and child care operators continue to follow regulations and guidance for school and child care centers issued by Santa Clara County Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Social Services - Child Care Licensing.
Child care center operations have been significantly curtailed due to COVID-19. In an effort to keep our families and the Stanford community informed of on-site child care operations, this page will be updated as new information becomes available.
Additionally, we will update the COVID-19 Child Care FAQ and offer resources and support to assist families in navigating this challenging moment in time.
Child Care Operations Restart Plan (as of November 8, 2021; restart plan is subject to change)
The county’s latest guidance allows the reopening of child care, assuming compliance with the group size and other business operation requirements. Below is the WLO's proposed timeline for reopening Stanford child care centers, which will align with the university’s staged restart. Additionally, WLO has developed a set of guiding principles and is leveraging these for decisions relative to reopening child care centers, while also relying on the expertise and guidance of various university partners.
Enrollment Access
Child care operators are inviting families to enroll as more space becomes available. Enrollment is moving at a more gradual pace than expected. Prior to COVID-19, we were already experiencing a shortage of child care teachers and COVID-19 exacerbated that issue. We are trying to cover our own teacher callouts with our own substitutes. As child care centers hire teachers and re-open additional classrooms, families will be invited to enroll.
If you have questions regarding when you may receive an offer, please reach out to the center(s) you applied to inquire about your status.
Families Returning to Care
Families who have enrolled in any group care setting are encouraged to have a back-up plan developed and in place should there be a COVID-19 exposure at their center. We cannot guarantee being able to keep child care open without interruptions due to COVID-19.
As a reminder, COVID-19 symptoms are often similar to cold and flu symptoms (e.g. sore throat, congestion, etc.). For the safety of our community, if you or your child show any cold or flu-like symptoms, please stay home. For families that have travel plans, please become familiar with the travel policy.
Child care operators are adhering to Stanford’s travel policy and applying those to the household unit.
Child Care Operations Restart Phases
Stage 3: Modified Activity (Current stage)
CENTERS OPEN: As of September 2021, all six campus child care centers have reopened.
PRIORITY ACCESS DURING COVID-19*: None
OTHER DETAILS: There are no restrictions on who is being invited to enroll in campus child care. As space is available, families who have applied for care are invited to enroll using our pre-COVID-19 Stanford affiliate priorities: faculty, students, postdocs, university staff, and SHC and SCH.
Stage 2: Research Resumption - Limited Activity (June 22, 2020)
CENTERS OPEN: As of July 22, 2020, we have five centers operating: Stock Farm Road, Madera Grove, Arboretum Children's Center, Children's Center of the Stanford Community, and Pine Cone Children's Center at Stanford Redwood City. In September 2021, we reopened Stanford West.
PRIORITY ACCESS DURING COVID-19*:
- Previously enrolled families authorized to return to campus for the restart of essential research functions and associated research support activities
- Starting 9/1/20: Available spaces were offered to previously enrolled families working from home, using our pre-COVID-19 Stanford affiliate priorities: faculty, students, postdocs, university staff, and Stanford Health Care (SHC) and Stanford Children’s Health (SCH)
- Starting 9/15/20: After enrolled families were offered a space, available spots were offered to families on the waiting list using our pre-COVID-19 Stanford affiliate priorities: faculty, students, postdocs, university staff and SHC and SCH
OTHER DETAILS: Return to campus is authorized by the school/unit Dean, Vice Provost, or Vice President.
Enrollment was managed in phases on a weekly, rolling basis. This approach helped children with the transition and ensured availability of space and teacher coverage.
Stage 1: Campus Preparation for research resumption (June 1 - June 21, 2020)
CENTERS OPEN: SFRCC remains open. Based on SIP guidance, child care centers and school-age camps opened up under stringent group size and other business operation requirements.
WorkLife Office opened an additional ICRI operated center in late June, 2020.
PRIORITY ACCESS DURING COVID-19*: Employees designated as an essential onsite role, primarily:
- Researchers
- Clinicians
- Authorized personnel returning to support Stage 2 preparation
OTHER DETAILS: The reopening of centers is dependent on prioritization of buildings that align with the university’s restart.
ICRI continued to operate their centers in a “combined” manner, offering spaces at the open buildings regardless of your previous location.
Stage 0: Essential Onsite Roles (Mar 2020 - May 2020)
CENTERS OPEN: Shelter in place was extended to May 30, 2020. Stock Farm Road Children’s Center (SFRCC) remained open during this entire period.
PRIORITY ACCESS DURING COVID-19*: Employees designated as an essential onsite role, primarily:
- Researchers
- Clinicians
OTHER DETAILS: Designated essential onsite personnel contacted WLO to request child care
Response stage (Feb 2020 - Apr 2020)
CENTERS OPEN: All centers were open until March 13, 2020. Shelter in place began on March 17, 2020, significantly curtailing child care operations.
PRIORITY ACCESS DURING COVID-19*: Pre-COVID-19 Stanford affiliate priorities
OTHER DETAILS: New hygiene practices and preventive measures deployed to keep all members of our child care facilities safe
*We expect the typical fall enrollment timeline to be different. We are following child care licensing guidance, evolving public health orders as those are issued, and child care operators are seeking to hire and train new teachers.
Questions?
FAQ
What measures are being taken to protect our children and teachers? Updated on 3/21/22
Campus child care centers are following guidelines issued by the County Public Health Department and the Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing.
The day-to-day practices we are implementing include:
- Reminders to parents and staff with COVID-19 symptoms to follow the centers’ health policies
- Reminders to families to respect the social distancing guidelines at drop off and pick up
- Follow an indoor masking only policy for teachers and children ages 2 and older
- Conducting daily cleaning and disinfecting at the end of each day
What vaccination protocol are child care centers following? (updated 3/21/22)
Currently, our child care operators require their employees to be vaccinated or have a valid exemption for the vaccine. In addition, they must comply with all other jurisdictional requirements.
Are there actions parents can take to help minimize the spread of COVID-19?
Yes, we ask that all parents help support our efforts by:
- Complying with the handwashing guidance when you enter and leave a classroom.
- Keeping your children home if they have symptoms of illness and especially if they have a fever.
- Following the self-isolation guidelines as recommended by the CDC.
- Providing accurate and complete information during their daily inspection for illness.
- Communicating your travel plans to ensure compliance with Stanford’s self-isolation requirements. Visit the Stanford Health Alerts website for important updates about infectious diseases, travel warnings and other public health issues.
- Remaining vigilant to your own health and the health of your child(ren). Please review the CDC’s Healthy Habits to Prevent Flu to avoid the spread of flu at work and school.
- Planning and preparing for alternative care in the case of center closures (e.g. family support, alternating schedules with partners, neighborhood cooperation).
What is the policy for families that travel? (updated 3/18/21)
Our facilities are complying with the university’s travel policies and we are enforcing these with all families enrolled in on-site childcare, as well as with potential tours of enrolling families. Please review Stanford’s travel policies, including requirements for returning to Stanford after traveling.
What grants and financial resources are available to support my family and childcare needs? (Updated 6/10/21)
The WorkLife Office and campus partners offer several grant programs and resources that are available to support you now and beyond the pandemic:
- Child Care Assistance Grant Program (link is external): New as of March 1, the Child Care Assistance Grant provides up to $5,000 per year to assist with child care expenses. In recognition of the various types of child care used by our postdoc families, this grant will allow some flexibility in the types of care eligible for reimbursement.
- Family Grant Program (link is external): New as of March 1, to further assist postdocs with families, the Family Grant allows up to $5,000 per year for living expenses beyond child care expenses; a few examples include housing, food, dependent medical costs, or transportation.
- Tuition Mitigation and Tuition Assistance Programs: Graduate students and postdocs will continue to have access to subsidized tuition programs. For more information and eligibility, please contact your center director.
- Employee Emergency Assistance Fund: Qualified benefits-eligible employees may apply for help when experiencing a short-term financial emergency or unanticipated expenses that cause financial hardship.
- Child Care Subsidy Grant Program: To help with the cost of child care, the CCSG provides grants for benefits-eligible employees who meet application qualifications.
- Faculty Child Care Assistance Program: Giving the impacts of the pandemic, this faculty program was expanded for the 2021 cycle to provide additional care relief.
- Graduate Family Grant Program (link is external): The Family Grant is available to all graduate students and may be used flexibly to cover expenses such as childcare, healthcare, insurance and rent.
Can I change the amount I am contributing to my dependent care FSA if I am not paying for child care at this time? (Updated 6/10/21)
Yes. Throughout the pandemic, many family’s care needs have fluctuated and reducing your future elections to your dependent care flexible spending account (FSA) is allowed (although making retroactive adjustment is not). If you receive a Child Care Subsidy Grant award in your FSA, you will continue to receive the per-pay-period award amount even if you contribute nothing further this year. It is also important to remember that the IRS has also allowed Stanford to temporarily amend its FSA rules for 2021 allowing you to carryover your full, unused 2020 dependent day care FSA balance and your full, unused CCSG balance into 2021. Your full, unused balance from 2021 will also be allowed to carryover into 2022, but after that, we expect the old rules of no carryover to return. To reduce your election, log into My Benefits and select “Change Your Benefits.” From there, select “Change in dependent care cost or provider.” Your FSA election is the only benefit election you’ll be able to change due to this circumstance.
What resources are available for those trying to balance work responsibilities with caregiving responsibilities, such as providing childcare while schools are closed or offering remote learning? (Updated 2/28/22)
Schools, child care center operations, and families who are in need of care continue to be significantly impacted by the pandemic. To help families navigate this challenging time, the WorkLife Office offers Family Resources, including additional child care options to consider during COVID-19. Employees may also be eligible for COVID Flex Hours.