Some families in North Carolina are facing challenges accessing infant formulas. These challenges are related to the February recall of certain Abbott infant formulas, the resulting increased demand for other brands of formula, and the lingering effects of supply issues during the pandemic. NC DHHS is sharing these recommendations and resources to help families access safe, healthy feeding options for their infants.
Infant Formula Fact Sheet for Families
Infant Formula Fact Sheet for Families – Spanish
Infant Formula Guidance for Health Care Providers
Infant Formula Choices for Families and Caregivers

Please share these resources with families in your early care and education programs!

The due date for the annual child care immunization report has been extended to February 1, 2021. Click here to read more about requirements for immunizations for children in child care and here to view the memo and get the instructions and worksheets from the NC Department of Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health, Immunization Branch.

Guidance and poster updated 5/11/2020 to align with current NC Interim Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Guidance for Child Care Settings – updated 5/6/2020, which expands on the situations in which adults and children should wear cloth face coverings.

Update – guidance further updated 2/5/2021.

Our latest newsletter is full of health, safety and screening information about Coronavirus, COVID-19 and how it affects childcare in North Carolina.

To assist child care facilities in keeping track of Daily Health Checks, we have created a Daily Health Check record that is now available for download.

For more information about limiting the spread of COVID-19, read about:

• Screening criteria to post at the entrance to the child care facility
• Thermometers and Temperature taking during COVID-19
• Symptoms of COVID-10 and exposure from NC DHHS

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services are offering informative webinars on the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control has updated their guidance for cleaning and disinfecting schools, child care and other community facilities on March 26th. The new guidance covers:

• Updated guidance for cleaning and disinfection of soft (porous) surfaces
• Updated links to EPA-registered disinfectant list
• Added guidance for disinfection of electronics
• Updated core disinfection/cleaning guidance

Please visit the CDC website to read more and also see our post from March 25th for links to North Carolina specific guidance.

If you are continuing to provide child care in NC, download and post this door sign created by the NC Child Care Health and Resource Center, at the entrance of your facility:
For more information on the steps child care facilities who remain open to serve essential personnel in their communities, visit the NC Department of Health and Human Services website. Read more about checking temperatures and using thermometers during the COVID-19 outbreak here.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has issued a Stay at Home order for North Carolina, effective Monday, March 30th at 5 pm until April 29th, 2020

Read the Executive Order in full and see the Frequently Asked Questions.

Child care providers who are following the required NC DHHS procedures are considered essential businesses and permitted to remain open.

View the press briefing below:

During the current state of emergency, many early educators might be getting close to their expiration date for the ITS-SIDS training. Please be aware that DCDEE has released the following guidance allowing Flexibility in Policy and Regulatory Requirements during COVID-19:

For Training Requirements in Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .1102 it is allowable to provide an additional six months for administrators and any child care provider to complete CPR, FA and ITS-SIDS training if needed. This change is allowed as long as one child care provider who has completed the CPR, FA training is present while children are in care, and as long as one child care provider in the infant room who has completed the ITS-SIDS training is present while infants are in care.

In addition, there are current sample policies available on our website that reflect the rule changes (available in English and Spanish).