The Extended Childcare materials provide a process through which state employees could contract childcare services if they are required to respond to an emergency. This practice may be seen as an all-hazards approach to recognizing and assessing childcare availability as a potential barrier to HCWs' willingness to work during a pandemic. Health agencies and healthcare systems that wish to adapt this practice may need to assure that their strategies are consistent with federal pandemic mitigation guidance, since it may be unwise to accommodate large gatherings of children in childcare facilities. Jurisdictions also may need to address several planning issues before implementing this project; these include beginning a dialogue with childcare facilities, childcare worker and volunteer surge capacity, and standards for housing infectious children.
