As of January 1, 2023, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Division of Early Care and Education will end use of the Critical Care Designation for West Virginia child care centers. This designation was implemented as a temporary response to child care needs due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Below is important information for child care providers regarding this change.

Effective January 1, 2023:

·         The Registration for Temporary Crisis Child Care Center and Self-Certification Checklists are no longer required.

·         The Critical Care Self-Certification Checklist will be eliminated, and the full set of child care provider regulations will be reinstated for all provider types (78CSR1 - Child Care Centers; 78CSR18 - Family Child Care Facilities; 78CSR19 - Family Child Care Homes; 78CSR20 - Family Child Care Informal/Relative Homes; 78CSR21 - Out-of-School Time Child Care Centers).

·         Pop-up child care sites that do not have an Initial Application for a Certificate of License or Approval to Operate to become a permanent child care provider with an approved child care license or certificate to operate will be closed. Contact your ECE regulatory specialist to begin the initial application process to maintain operating status.

Reminder:

Providers receiving American Rescue Plan funding are required to continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID guidelines. Per the West Virginia Child Care Stabilization Payment Policy and Procedure Manual:

5.2. Providers will Certify:

5.2.1. When open and providing services, implement policies in line with guidance and orders from states, territorial, Tribal, and local authorities, and, to the greatest extent possible, implement policies in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

If you have questions related to these changes, please contact your child care specialist. Family Child Care Homes and Facilities regulatory specialist contact information can be found here​​. Child Care Centers and Out-of-School Time programs licensing specialist contact information can be found here​.

Chart of open child care providers can be found ​here​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​CDC Guidelines, signature form and checklist for child care providers can be found here and below:

CDC Child Care Guidance ​

Polices and Procedures Verification Form 

Checklist- General Preparedness and Planning 

​Billable Days information