Child Care or Early Childhood Program is Suspended

• This template can be customized and used as an announcement via e-mail, Web site, child care program newsletter, or other creative ways to reach parents and child care providers.
• Coordinate efforts with your local health department before distributing this letter or e-mail communication to ensure that all information is timely, relevant, and accurate.

[Child care or the early childhood program] at [name of program] has been suspended as a result of severe flu in the area.  Children and staff should not report to the program.

We have been working closely with the [county/city] health department to determine the current flu conditions in our community. The program will be closed for [5-7] days to reduce the risk of children and child care providers getting sick and to limit the spread of infection. 

• Early childhood program closure is likely to decrease the spread of flu when used early when the flu appears in the community and when used together with other strategies.
• Parents should find out if their employer will allow them to stay at home to care for children whose child care or early childhood programs have closed. Ask if you can work from home.
• Find other ways to care for your children at home. Try to develop safe backup child care arrangements with neighbors, friends, co-workers, or church groups. These should consist of small groups of children (for example, groups of 6 or fewer children) and have a stable child care provider who uses and teaches healthy flu prevention practices. See www.cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm for more information on these prevention practices.

We will provide updates on the closure of [name of program]. Call [phone number] or visit our Web site [if program has a Web site, insert Web address] for more information.

For more information about the flu, call 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.flu.gov.