Change to ESIT COVID-19 Reentry Plan Stage 3 Deliverable
Date: May 23, 2023
To: Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT) Provider Agencies and County Lead Agencies
*CLAs, please share with your contractors*
Dear ESIT Provider Agencies,
For the past three years, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, our community of ESIT providers have shown tremendous strength, flexibility, and creativity in the continued delivery of high-quality services to infants, toddlers and families across the state. As the current health conditions have evolved, our community has evolved with those conditions. This memo addresses how recent changes impact DCYF recommendations and requirements for ESIT service provision and contract deliverables.
- On Monday October 31, 2022, Governor Inslee ended the WA State COVID-19 state of emergency.
- On April 3, 2023, the WA Department of Health rescinded the Secretary of Health Mask Order 20.03.11.
- On April 10, 2023, President Biden signed legislation to end the federally declared national emergency.
- On May 11, 2023, the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expired.
- At the time of this writing, most, if not all, ESIT Provider Agencies have already returned to providing an array of in-person services.
In light of these developments, DCYF ESIT is rescinding the contract requirement and deliverable that ESIT Provider Agencies submit a Stage 3 Reentry Plan as outlined in the Multi-Stage Reentry Framework for Reentry to In-Person Services. DCYF commends those Provider Agencies who thoughtfully made the transition to in-person services in ways that prioritized staff and family safety and thorough communication with families.
As these emergency declarations end, it’s important to acknowledge that COVID-19 and other communicable diseases remain potential workplace and community hazards. The DCYF ESIT State Leadership Office strongly recommends:
- Drawing on the same individualized, sensitive, and supportive approach to safety, in line with ESIT’s Guiding Principles, that has guided our services throughout the pandemic.
- The use of vaccinations and masking as primary strategies to protect children, families, and providers.
- Each Provider Agency use the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to create an agency protocol and plan to address ongoing and emerging issues of disease and infection control.
Ongoing updates and more information may be found at the following state COVID-19 webpages:
If you have questions, please contact your regional Technical Assistance Specialist or Laurie Thomas, ESIT Program Administrator, at laurie.thomas@dcyf.wa.gov.
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