Asheville Watchdog: Buncombe Child Care Providers Face Financial Crisis When State Grants Evaporate in June

Child Care Providers in Buncombe County Facing Financial Crisis

Child care providers in Buncombe County are on the brink of a financial crisis as millions of dollars in state grants are set to evaporate at the end of June. The impending loss of the North Carolina Child Care Stabilization grants, which were a crucial lifeline for many providers during the pandemic, has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the future of child care in the area.

Impending Closure of Child Care Centers

According to a survey by the North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Council, 29 percent of early child care centers in the state are expected to close when the grants expire. This could result in the loss of 91,660 slots for children to receive child care, with Buncombe County’s 95 childcare facilities among those at risk.

Impact on Child Care Workers and Services

Greg Borom, director of the Western North Carolina Early Childhood Coalition, expressed concern over the potential consequences of losing the grants. He stated, “Centers won’t have another pool of funds to keep supplementing wages of child care teachers. That will most likely mean that we’ll lose teachers, which means that we’ll lose slots, and mean that entire child centers have to close.”

Jenny Vial, director of Child Care Resources at the Buncombe Partnership for Children, highlighted the county’s loss of about 11 percent of licensed child care slots since the start of the pandemic. The grants were initially provided as part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act to assist child care providers in weathering the impact of the pandemic.

Struggle for Sustainability

The financial support from these grants has enabled child care centers in Buncombe, such as the Christine W. Avery Learning Center, Verner Center for Early Learning, and the YWCA, to improve wages, offer bonuses, provide additional training, and enhance facility equipment. However, with the grants set to expire, these centers are now faced with tough decisions to sustain their operations.

Impact on Families and the Community

Strain on Families

The closure of child care centers and reduction in services can have a significant impact on families, particularly those from lower-income and BIPOC communities. Child care vouchers may not be enough to cover the costs, leaving parents with limited options and putting a strain on their ability to work. The burden often falls disproportionately on mothers, who may have to sacrifice career opportunities due to a lack of accessible child care.

Emily Friend, a mother in the community, shared her struggles in finding affordable child care after the birth of her daughter, Serina. The challenges she faced in balancing work and child care underscore the critical need for sustainable and accessible child care options in the county.

Community Impact

Rachael Sawyer, the county’s Strategic Partnerships director, emphasized the importance of addressing the child care crisis to support the overall well-being of families and the community. The loss of grants is expected to exacerbate existing challenges in the child care sector, leading to longer waitlists, reduced services, and limited access for families in need.

Efforts to Address the Crisis

Call for State Support

Advocates and organizations in Buncombe County are advocating for additional state funding to address the child care crisis. Governor Roy Cooper’s proposed budget includes significant investments in child care and early education, which could provide much-needed support to sustain child care services in the county.

Despite the challenges ahead, stakeholders are committed to finding solutions to ensure the continuity of child care services in Buncombe County and support the well-being of children and families in the community.