Child Care during COVID-19

Opportunity Description:

Study description: The economic and public health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic are monumental for the early care and education community. This study of child care providers assesses -- in real time -- the effects of the pandemic on child care programs and the livelihood and wellbeing of providers. We believe that it is important not just to document impact but also to examine the roll-out of new federal and state emergency assistance and identify useful strategies that small businesses are pursuing to maintain their programs and help their staff and clients during this difficult time. • Many child care workers have been furloughed or laid off and there has been new federal and state emergency assistance made available to small businesses to support early care and education staff and their families.[1] There have also been modifications to existing public benefits for workers who have lost their jobs during this time. • Some child care workers have maintained their employment through the pandemic. These providers are on the front lines caring for children, interacting with families, and putting themselves and their own families at increased health risk while also modifying their practices to accommodate the current circumstances. • Now that child care businesses are reopening on a broader scale, directors and owners are refitting their programs to meet new public health guidelines and the new realities facing their clientele. Little is known about the experiences of providers in this new environment. We are exploring the following questions: 1. How have child care programs made decisions about staying open or closing (or reopening after closure) during the pandemic? Do they have access to necessary information to make informed decisions? 2. Do child care center directors and family child care providers know about the emergency assistance available, are they accessing it, and what are the barriers to access they are experiencing? How are these barriers being addressed over time? 3. How are program owners/directors responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, both from an operational and a financial point of view? What kinds of changes have they made to the care they provide (if still open)? How are families, staff, and children responding to these changes? 4. How have programs experienced the pandemic overtime, especially since the Stay-at-Home order was issued in March? What are their plans moving forward? To answer these questions, we are conducting 2-3 structured Zoom interviews (September/October/November 2020; February/March/April 2021) per participant with a sample of child care program owners or directors in centers and family child care homes in Cook County and the Champaign-Urbana region. We will identify a sample that is diverse in terms of its geography, size, quality-rating, CCAP-reliance, and for-profit/not-for-profit status.

Primary Responsibilities: 

I am seeking a research assistant for a qualitative study of child care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The position will be 10-12 hours per week. Responsibilities include: Scheduling and carrying out qualitative, in-depth interviews over Zoom or by telephone with child care providers across the state of Illinois. In addition to conducting interviews, management of interview data and some coding/analysis later in the year. Weekly attendance at all research meetings required.

Minimum Qualifications and/or Eligibility Requirements: 

Applicants should have interest in early childhood education, child care, work & family, urban poverty issues. Some qualitative research experience preferred but not required. Must be very organized, reliable, and comfortable in interview setting. Knowledge of Zoom technology, excel, qualtrics preferred.

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors preferred. Some research experience preferred but not required. Knowledge of Zoom technology, excel, qualtrics preferred.

Knowledge or skills gained from the experience: 

Interviewing skills; qualitative research skills; knowledge of research in child care and early education domain

Application Process: 

please contact Professor Henly jhenly@uchicago.edu

Application Requirements: