Opinion: Childcare and After School Programming Challenges
Tabitha Ervin
(As submitted to Journal Gazette)
Every day in our community, caring and committed staff serve thousands of children through afterschool programs, preschool programs, daycares, and early learning centers. These kids are welcomed by knowledgeable workers who are trained to support and serve the children who participate in these various programs. As a parent of a 4th grader, I take advantage of this care daily at my daughter’s school as I drop her off before school starts so I can get to work, or even sometimes after school when busy schedules do not permit one of her parents to pick her up when the bell rings at the end of the day. My own family is just one of countless examples of those who are working and needing care before or after school, or even throughout the day for children in daycare.
Quality child care services are essential for working parents, who rely on these crucial programs while they pursue careers and support their families. Child care providers in communities across the United States offer our children safe and nurturing places where they can learn, grow and thrive.
Like many other sectors, child care is still reeling following a devastating toll from the pandemic, compounded by the end of emergency stabilization funding provided through the American Rescue Plan. This funding helped programs stay open, retain staff, and prevented the loss of care to millions of children.
In our community, there are numerous quality programs, daycares, and organizations that all work to serve children in our area, including the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne. Children from elementary school to middle school age are typically the ones who attend these programs, and with approximately 25% of the Allen County population age 18 or under (according to the 2020 Census), that is a substantial portion of our community.
At a time when families across the country are facing financial hardships, this lapse in stabilization funding could upend a service that underpins our economy and that so many families, particularly working mothers, rely on to participate in the workforce. A reduction in access to affordable and reliable child care will create a devastating ripple effect on our local workforce and economy. As a leader in this community, myself, along with our staff have already started to see this impact through our programs.
While our children are facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, chronic absenteeism, and declining academic achievement, we cannot afford to underestimate the vital role that child care plays in improving outcomes for children and in supporting our communities. Research shows that before and after school programs have a critical impact on the academic, social, and emotional outcomes of our youth. Giving our kids a safe and enriching place to grow and gain a sense of belonging is more important than ever.
Without additional funding there is a real and growing risk that organizations will need to lay off staff or limit programming offerings, resulting in longer waitlists for our child care programs and reduced capacity, putting many working families in a difficult position.
We should all pay attention to the looming childcare crisis in our community. Even if you do not have young children, the impact on our community will be felt by nearly all who live and work here, not to mention the devastating effects on our most precious citizens, the youth, who are our future. You can help by donating or volunteering with local child care organizations, writing letters to our legislature about the absence of supportive funding, or becoming a part of the critical workforce that cares for our children daily.
