EMERGENCY RESPONSE (COVID-19) CHILD CARE 

AVAILABLE THROUGH AUGUST 31st, 2021

Currently, the Athens-McMinn Family YMCA is the only DHS registered childcare option available for ages 5 to 13 year olds in our area. The online registration process includes identifying which days the child(ren) will attend and providing proof of employment as an essential worker. If you or your signifant other do not qualify as essential, contact us at ecc@athensmcminnymca.org to gain access to free emergency child care. The YMCA is providing FREE childcare through a special partnership with the Tennessee Department of Human Services. We currently offer all day care on Wednesdays while county schools are out of session [updated 9/18/20]

Location as of Monday, January 18th: Athens Church of Christ, 1016 North Ave, Athens, TN 37303

HOW TO REGISTER - All steps must be completed 

This form will no longer be active starting May 28. All participants in child care this summer must be registered in Summer Day Camp [we are currently on an extensive waiting list for camp].

1. Fill out days of care for ALL DAY Care (through May 29, 2021): Please complete this form for ALL DAY CARE only. If you are currently enrolled in our After School Care Program, you do not need to complete this if you only need After School Care. If you are enrolled in our After School Care, but you need all day care, you should submit this form for the day you will need ALL DAY CARE ONLY. We must have 24 hours notice if you are registering the week of with spots available. This step must be done each week. 

DAYS OF CARE

2. Verify Your Employment Eligibility and Tennessee Residency--completed once for fall season. Must submit this again if you have not done so since 8/24/2020.

EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION & TENNESSEE RESIDENCY HERE

3. Someone will contact you via email with next steps

4. Permission for Medication Administration (if applicable). Email to matt@athensmcminnymca.org

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION FORM

FAQs

Program Policies & Procedures 


CHECK IN PROCEDURES

In an abundance of caution, we will be implementing the following procedures for all childcare programs, please allow extra time for dropping your children off.  We recommend that you plan to have an extra 10 minutes to make sure you are on time to work or to a class.  This procedure will include drop-in branch child watch, youth centers, spring break camps, and our early learning centers:

Parents will park in the church parking lot for drop off and pick up each day. You will receive a phone number to call to reach YMCA staff.

Do not exit the car any time you are at the church.

Fever and Health Screens:  We will take the temperature of all children and staff before they are allowed to be signed into one of our childcare programs and will be asked a short series of questions to determine if there have been any signs of illness within the past 24 hours.

Handwashing: Anyone entering the program space will be required to wash their hands while being supervised by one of our staff members to ensure proper handwashing and reduce the spread of germs.

Personal Belongings: Outside toys, stuffed animals, electronic devices, and any other personal belongings will not be allowed in the childcare program areas.

Program Areas: Parents and other staff will not be allowed to enter into the program areas unless in an emergency situation. They will then be required to go through the same screening and handwashing procedure to ensure the safety of the children in our care.  

Any child who is experiencing symptoms of fever (greater than 100°F), cough or shortness of breath, runny nose, sore throat, weakness, etc. within the last 24 hours, will not be allowed to check into a childcare program.  


During this program, our hope is that kids will maintain some normalcy, enjoying crafts, songs, games, homework packet help and much needed fun under the supervision of experienced Y childcare staff and in alignment with state and federal mandates, following safe standards with regards to staff-to-child ratios. 

This program is for critical use — parents who are first responders or medical personnel who need childcare to be able to work and support their families. We will take extraordinary precautions: temperatures of kids and staff will be taken upon arrival & throughout the day [wellness checks], kids will sanitize hands upon arrival and throughout the day, groups will be sized for proper spacing, our staff will monitor children and look for symptoms of COVID-19 and our facilities will be cleaned using CDC approved disinfectants daily. Enrollment will be limited to our physical space and staffing capacity under current CDC guidelines.

Email ecc@athensmcminnymca.org for registration help


HELP SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS

Consider donating to our cause so that we can continue to provide the services and support our community needs. Together, we can build A Better Us.

DONATE TO THE COVID-19 HOPE FUND