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YMCA to help with childcare for medical workers fighting COVID-19

The transition would take place Friday, March 20, with more centers available by March 27.

ATLANTA — While medical professionals are working overtime in the fight against the coronavirus, many are also trying to juggle childcare and keeping them safe from the virus. Enter the YMCA of Metro Atlanta.

On Wednesday, the group announced they would be dedicating several metro Atlanta facilities as child care centers for those medical workers. The transition would take place Friday, March 20, with more centers available by March 27.

The childcare assistance would be available for medical workers at nine metro Atlanta hospitals, including: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Eastside Medical Center, Emory, Georgia Highlands, Intown Pediatric, Northside, Piedmont, WellStar and Yerkes-Emory.

“Our medical professionals are on the front lines of combating COVID-19, and child care is a major concern for them and their families,” said Governor Kemp, in a statement applauding the effort. “The Y has always responded to the needs of our community."

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“We’re pivoting, repurposing, and working to provide programs and services that will be critical in the coming weeks,” added Lauren Koontz, CEO of the YMCA of Metro Atlanta. "In many ways this is our moment to truly deliver on our promise of service to those who turn to us for community and to those who turn to us for survival."

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While the YMCA is stepping in to offer help, the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning said it is also maintaining information on child care programs that remain open, working to relax certain licensing rules and providing guidance to those child care centers that are open.

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If you are looking for child care, DECAL is advising parents visit www.qualityrated.org and continue to check back for the latest information on child care availability. You can also call 1-877-ALL-GA-KIDS.

At 11Alive, we’re focusing our news coverage on the facts and not the fear around the virus. To see our full coverage, visit our coronavirus section, here: www.11Alive.com/Coronavirus

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