Nashville's local news and NPR station

Essential Employees In Tennessee Can Now Get Free Child Care

By

Blake FarmerWPLN (file)
With schools out for the year, many essential workers have been scrambling to find day care options, which also comes at a substantial cost.
Share:

The state of Tennessee will offer child care at no cost to all workers deemed essential through June 15.

The state’s Department of Human Services says parents whose children are already in a licensed program can apply here for payment assistance. For school-age children not already enrolled elsewhere, the YMCA and the Boys & Girls Club will provide the child care, with their participating sites listed here for the YMCA, and here for the Boys & Girls Club.

Eligible for help:

  • Employees of healthcare entities
  • Law enforcement
  • First responders
  • Corrections officers
  • Military
  • Activated national guard
  • Human and social services workers
  • Postal workers
  • Transportation employees
  • Restaurant workers
  • Grocery workers

“This is just one way the YMCA is able to support families, making sure that essential workers can have peace of mind that their children are being cared for in a safe place,” said Jerry Martin, CEO of YMCA of Memphis.

Federal money from the Child Care Development Fund is paying for the service.

To keep daycares afloat, the Department of Human Services has already offered $10 million to ease financial losses created by the pandemic. Some regulations have also been lifted to allow daycares to handle children who are no longer in school.

Blake Farmer, Host, This Is Nashville

Blake Farmer is the host of “This Is Nashville,” the flagship weekday show of Nashville Public Radio. Previously, Blake spent 16 years at WPLN News, serving as host, editor and news director. Before a two-year radio hiatus with a Nashville-based healthcare company, Blake was one of the country’s most prolific healthcare audio journalists. He produced stories for both local and national programs, extending the reach of his reporting through a partnership with KFF Health News. Outside of work, Blake can be found running or biking on roads that other Nashvillians consider too busy for such activities. So far, he has always made it home to his wife of 20 years and two children.

on-air light On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM

Loading schedule...