{"content":[{"text":"March 20, 2020","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.13195,"width":0.124543,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"Ms. Dannette R. Smith \n Chief Executive Officer \n Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.184222,"width":0.431804,"height":0.055061}},{"text":"Dr. Matthew Blomstedt \n Commissioner of Education \n Nebraska Department of Education","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.253919,"width":0.27698100000000003,"height":0.05506100000000003}},{"text":"Mr. John H. Albin \n Commissioner of Labor \n Nebraska Department of Labor","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.323654,"width":0.244315,"height":0.05506100000000003}},{"text":"Dear CEO Smith, Dr. Blomstedt, and Mr. Albin:","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.410775,"width":0.38164699999999996,"height":0.020212000000000008}},{"text":"The COVID-19 pandemic has and will continue to put a profound strain on our state’s early childhood \n programs and providers and, as a result, our broader civic and economic infrastructure. During this \n public health crisis, the reduction in service and closure of child care programs in Nebraska have \n reaffirmed how critical this industry is to the stability of our communities, state and nation.","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.445624,"width":0.803759,"height":0.07248399999999999}},{"text":"Throughout this public health emergency, it is paramount that we continue to meet the nutrition needs of \n young children and families; ensure child care professionals and businesses are eligible to receive \n financial support to ensure the short-term and long-term economic viability of the child care system; and \n provide for the child care needs of individuals and families who are on the front line of the response to \n this pandemic.","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.53277,"width":0.8205490000000001,"height":0.08990900000000002}},{"text":"We also recognize that individual programs across Nebraska will be making difficult decisions on \n whether to remain operational during this crisis, which is an issue of serious concern for the children and \n families they serve and for their caregivers, teachers, and communities. We understand the painful \n dilemma programs face: either close to stem the spread of the disease and protect their children, \n families, and staff and all of the others in their communities they will encounter, or remain open and \n potentially place children, families, and staff, as well as others, at high risk.","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.637316,"width":0.822261,"height":0.107371}},{"text":"On behalf of the allied organizations focused on policies and programs that affect the strength of \n Nebraska’s early childhood system, we request that your state agencies strongly consider the following \n recommendations:","bbox":{"left":0.088235,"top":0.759323,"width":0.8082710000000001,"height":0.05506100000000003}},{"text":"•","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.830802,"width":0.009019000000000013,"height":0.018561999999999967}},{"text":"Use emergency federal and/or state funds to support child care providers who remain open to \n provide services for the children of health care professionals, frontline responders and other \n essential personnel. \n Extend and ensure the availability of temporary unemployment insurance to all child care \n business owners and employees who have suspended services due to the public health","bbox":{"left":0.147098,"top":0.830081,"width":0.730216,"height":0.09096400000000004}},{"text":"•","bbox":{"left":0.117686,"top":0.884131,"width":0.009019000000000013,"height":0.018561999999999967}}],"images_bbox":[{"left":0.088235,"top":0.032702,"width":0.823529,"height":0.078725}],"images_bbox_not_text_overlap":[{"left":0.088235,"top":0.032702,"width":0.823529,"height":0.078725}]}