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BATON ROUGE —  In response to the COVID-19 situation, the Louisiana Department of Education opened the Child Care Assistance Program to support essential critical infrastructure personnel.

By completing an application, these families can access subsidized care for children age 12 and under at licensed childcare centers participating in the program, or through registered and certified family childcare and in-home providers.

“If you can keep your children at home, please do so,” said Acting State Superintendent Beth Scioneaux, echoing guidance from the Louisiana Department of Health. “But we must ensure affordable access to childcare for those who are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response effort. Opening the Child Care Assistance Program to critical personnel is necessary and important as we fight the spread of COVID-19.”

Effective today, families of essential critical infrastructure workers are eligible for CCAP, and their applications will be expedited. Essential critical infrastructure workers belong to the following industries: HealthCare/Public Health; Law Enforcement, Public Safety, First Responders; Food and Agriculture; Energy (electrical industry, petroleum, natural and propane gas workers);  Waste and Wastewater; Transportation and Logistics; Public Works; Communications and Information Technology; Other Community-Based Government; Critical Manufacturing; Hazardous Materials.

Interested families must complete the application. Upon approval, initial certification will be valid for 30 days. If the public health crisis continues beyond 30 days, the Louisiana Department of Education will reassess applications.

The application and subsidy rates are available in the web version of this story at lobservateur.com.