EVALUATION OF DIRECT ENHANCEMENT SERVICES COVID-19 Impacts & Response Spring 2020 was an unprecedented time at the state, national and global level due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Because of both local and state declarations of emergency, the Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County (ELCHC) closed its physical locations to the public on March 18, 2020, through the end of the 2019-2020 fiscal year. However, with the adaptation of IT services and programs, the ELCHC did not cease delivering services during this period. A majority of the Coalition’s employees participated successfully in a Work from Home Program which allowed staff to continue to provide virtual assistance to both families and providers during traditional work hours. During this time, professional development trainings offered shifted to a virtual format. The ELCHC conducted live webinars on a monthly or as-needed basis for child care providers to assist providers with new policies and changes related to COVID-19. The ELCHC received more than 670 applications as of June 30 for child care provider mini-grants made possible through the CARES Act Emergency Funding Grants. The ELCHC also participated in the First Responder and Health Care Workers Initiative, which opened up School Readiness funding to the children of essential workers. As of June 30, more than 760 children were enrolled through this initiative.
Comprehensive Consumer Education Parents who want or need child care are faced with the challenging task of searching for quality services within a program that is also convenient, affordable, and aligns with their goals for their child’s educational attainment. In response, Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County’s (ELCHC) Family Services team has developed a holistic approach to delivering a variety of strategies and resources to support parents seeking the right place for their child. Early Learning Coalition of Hillsborough County
FY19-20 Annual Report 4
