For Essex County Testing and Vaccine appointments, go to https://essexcovid.org

For NJ State Testing information, please visit https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/testing

For NJ State Vaccination information, please visit https://covid19.nj.gov/pages/vaccine

FDA Warning About the Dangers of Hand Sanitizers With Methanol

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recent urgent warning to consumers and health care providers about hand sanitizer products that are labeled as containing ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) but that have tested positive for methanol contamination.

Click the link above for more information.

For the most up to date information, please go to the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the website of the New Jersey Department of Health.

The CDC also has a page with information for schools.

Information for parents and child care providers is available on the New Jersey Department of Human Services website at https://childcarenj.gov/Resources/Coronavirus

Important Links

Letter from Christine Norbut Beyer, MSW, Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families

Mayor Baraka Invests up to $6 Million
Mayor Ras J. Baraka today announced a dramatic series of financial interventions to help residents and small businesses in desperate need of help during the COVID-19 crisis. Click the link above for more information.

Fact Sheet for Grand-families and Multi-generational Families
While grandparents are being advised to isolate themselves physically from grandchildren, it is nearly impossible for older caregivers to distance themselves from the children they are raising. You are on the front line for your family every day. Today’s challenges are making it much tougher to care for them. It’s important to stay calm and do everything you can to stay healthy, informed and connected. Click the link above for more information.

Emergency and Disaster Childcare policy
The Division of Family Development is taking these actions, effective immediately, to assist child
care providers and the families they serve during COVID-19 crisis.  Click the link above for more information.

Childcare Program Emergency Closure Notification Survey
The purpose of this survey is to help inform the State of the child care impact and potential capacity in respond to COVID-19. We understand that individual providers will make choices appropriate to their circumstances. Your response to this survey is very important and needed to help the State determine how to best meet the needs of families and child care providers during this emergency.

Health and Safety Cleaning & Santizing Grants
The Department of Human Services, Division of Family (DHS/DFD) is making grants immediately available to support programs and providers participating in the state’s Child Care Subsidy Program.  Click the link above for more information.

COVID-19 Resources for Licensed Childcare
The NJ Department of Children and Families is continuing to monitor the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus and its impact on children, families, our staff and our partner providers, throughout the state.

CDC checklist for teachers and parents

More resources

Children’s Bureau

• Housing Support When Universities, Colleges Close Due to COVID-19
• COVID – 19 Resources
• A Message on COVID-19 from the Children’s Bureau ​
• New Guidance on Caseworker Visits via Videoconferencing

Early Childhood Development

• COVID-19 – Information and Resources (Mostly sourcing from other websites): ​​
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infection Disease Outbreak View disclaimers about external links​​​​
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Director’s Message: Coping with Coronavirus: Managing Stress, Fear, and Anxiety View disclaimers about external links

Office of Child Care

• Office of Child Care COVID-19 Resources 
• Information about COVID-19 for CCDF Lead Agencies: Relevant Flexibilities in CCDF Law ​​​​​​
• Flexibility in Spending CCDF Funds in Response to Federal or State Declared Emergency Situations​​​​​​
• CCDF Frequently Asked Questions in Response to COVID-19 ​​​​​
• Child Care and Preschool Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist View disclaimers about external links
• Preparing Child Care Programs for Pandemic Influenza ​​​​​​ View disclaimers about external links
• HHS-ACF COVID-19 Resources 

Clarifying Gov. Murphy’s Executive Order Closing All Public, Private and Parochial Preschool Programs.

Dear Parents and Providers,

Many of you have inquired whether the Governor’s Executive Order includes child care centers and family child care providers.

During a press conference following the issuance of the executive order, Gov. Murphy was asked if the mandated closure includes child care programs. He replied that IT DOES NOT!  Child care centers and family child care providers will continue to operate.