LITTLETON — The slumping economy and high unemployment rate is causing some area child care centers to struggle.
In her 15 years as owner/director of Little Town Child Care Development Center in Littleton, Kimberly Rodwell said this economy has affected her business “tremendously.”
A five-star center, they have children ages 6 weeks to 12-years-old.
There is also an after school program, which is hurt by the economy.
“My enrollment has never been this low,” she said. “If it doesn’t improve, we’ll probably have to close.”
She said some parents have had to seek subsidies to help pay for childcare but there is a waiting list for those funds from the Department of Social Services.
Her private paying parents also have had difficulties — some have been laid off or others have had their hours cut.
Rodwell does her best to work with parents, like offering daily rates.
“We went from having a waiting list to nobody,” she said. “We are usually full with a waiting list.”
A decrease in students could mean less staff for the center. “My staff’s hours have been cut,” Rodwell said. “We have tried not to lay anyone off.”
When asked if she sees the economy improving, she said, “I don’t see the economy getting better.”
Magda Baligh, executive director of the Halifax-Warren Smart Start Partnership for Children, said times are tough and as people lose their jobs, they no longer need childcare.
“It obviously trickles down,” she said. “Child care centers are reducing staff and cutting hours. Our facilities are working hard to cope.”
Halifax-Warren Smart Start Partnership for Children provides a Child Care Resource and Referral Service offering technical assistance professional development workshops and teacher training and quality enhancement services to childcare providers.
In Halifax County, there are about 56 licensed childcare centers and homes. Baligh said they also administer the More at Four programs.
There are pre-kindergartens in the schools systems.
“We had fewer slots this year than last year due to the state’s financial situation,” she said. “We are not able to serve as many children in More at Four.”
Baligh added Halifax-Warren Smart Start Partnership for Children is still waiting to get their budget finalized.
“Halifax County is suffering more than a lot of places,” she said. “But we’re striving to continue to provide all the services we offer.”
Jackie Bennett, director and co-owner of the Children’s Creative Center in Child Care in Roanoke Rapids, admits things are tight with enrollments down. Bennett has been involved with childcare for several years but her own business has been opened for a year. “This is the< worst we have ever had it,” she said. “We’re trying to make it and have cut hours tremendously.”
To help save money, Bennett said she has worked around the clock to make up the hours. Other things have made things difficult for her include price of fuel increasing, taxes increasing in September and yearly licensing fee also increased. “All of the things make things tough,” she said.
She said there is no subsidy money available. “There are children who have been on the waiting list since December 2008,” Bennett said. She added most parents can’t afford to pay the full cost for childcare and need the subsidy money. “We have been doing the best we can by doing fundraisers.”
Some of her teachers are volunteering their time and helping to buy supply items needed. She admits her family had donated a lot to her childcare center.
Bennett said she is cautiously optimistic about the future of the economic. “It will take awhile to get over the struggle,” she said.
But, we still have faith, she added. “We believe in God. He’s still going to help us so we won’t be out.”
Cynthia Brown, executive director of Hertford-Northampton Smart Start Partnership for Children, said one of the biggest things affecting some childcare centers is the availability of subsidy money.
“This translates to operating funds for child care centers,” Brown said. “Whenever the subsidies drops, many of the children who would be in a child care are not.”
Brown said they are also waiting for the budget to finalized.
The Child Care Resource and Referral Services — providing referrals to parents and training to child care providers. “All of these things are impacted by fewer dollars,” she said.