Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on April 3, 2020 and was updated on April 29, 2020 to reflect updates related to Governor Abbott’s April 27 announcement on re-opening Texas.

While many employees with children can arrange to work from home while also being thrown into the role of teacher, it is just not possible for many essential employees. With schools and daycares closed across the metroplex, the complications of living with coronavirus includes providing safe and affordable childcare.

Childcare providers may be difficult to find – that’s why Best Place for Kids developed the online search tool to find available childcare options in Tarrant County. The FIND! Child Care search tool was modified to specifically serve working parents employed at essential businesses during the Tarrant County COVID-19 emergency. Parents of children zero to twelve years old can see their options by entering a name and email address at find.bestplace4kids.com/families.

On Monday, April 27, Governor Abbott announced a plan to begin re-opening Texas. During Phase 1 of the plan to re-open, retail businesses, malls, movie theaters, and restaurants can open and operate at 25% occupancy, meaning that more North Texans are going back to work. For now, childcare programs will continue to only be available for essential employees. Non-essential employees returning to work will not be able to access childcare programs at this time.

All essential employees have access to the resources above. The Texas Workforce Commission has limited funding available to provide financial assistance to essential workers. Because this funding limited, the Texas Workforce Commission will prioritize assistance requests by types of essential work, in the order listed:

• Workers in childcare services that support workers in other essential functions
• Pharmacy and health care workers
• First responders
• Critical infrastructure workers in grocery, utilities, and trucking
• Critical infrastructure workers which include:
  • Critical state and local government staff
  • Mail/delivery services
  • Nursing homes, home healthcare, and other direct providers,
  • Banks
  • Gas stations
  • Military
  • Restaurants and other food delivery
• Other critical occupations identified by the Texas Workforce Commission Board 

“Workers at essential businesses do so much to take care of our community during these difficult times — they should have the peace of mind their children are well cared for while they are at work. The Best Place for Kids real time FIND! Child Care search tool offers essential personnel an important resource to access quality childcare in Arlington” Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore Dr. Victoria Farrar-Myers said. Dr. Farrar-Myers has been working with childcare providers for years to ensure they have the resources and training to provide the best start in education for Arlington children.

Child Care Associates is also working hard to make sure childcare locations have appropriate supplies to ensure a clean and safe place for children. Kara Waddell is coordinating front-door deliveries to 412 childcare programs throughout Tarrant County. These deliveries include a total of 420 gallons of bleach, 1,043 spray bottles, 390 packs of disinfecting wipes, 2,012 bottles of hand sanitizers, 1,248 bottles of hand soap, and thousands of gloves, all delivered by 100 volunteers.

“As we work to come together as a community during this pandemic, I think it’s important to highlight childcare services available for essential employees in both the public and private sector who have kids unable to go back to school,” said Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams. “I want to thank all of our local childcare providers for answering the call and stepping up to help families when they need it most.”

For more information on childcare resources, visit https://frontlinechildcare.texas.gov or https://workforcesolutions.net/covid-19/#childcare.