The Owensboro YMCA will be offering child care to those combating COVID-19 on the front lines starting Monday. Eligible employees include those who work at hospitals, medical facilities and offices, healthcare workers, firefighters, police officers, grocery store employees and emergency first responders.
The decision to provide child care opportunities for these workers came after the YMCA received the results of a community needs assessment revealing 12 local families with a total of 25 children were in need of childcare services.
“YMCA was appointed as a child care provider because of a statewide need,” said Kristy Harrison, director of child care at the Owensboro YMCA. “Lots of other YMCAs are already running child care because it’s an emergency situation.”
Though Harrison said she will stand by YMCA’s mission to serve the community, it’s a little nerve-wracking to open a child care center during a pandemic.
Harrison has asked herself if it was the right decision, but she knows how important child care is to the employees risking their health every day.
“I got a call from a nurse at the hospital whose husband is deployed, and she has no family here,” Harrison said, emphasizing that not everyone has the ability to work full-time without child care services.
The Owensboro YMCA will offer services for children between 3-12 years of age. Harrison said her team will take extra precautions in protecting the health of the children and the YMCA employees. Curbside drop-offs and pick-ups will be enforced, and staff will wear masks and gloves as they escort children inside.
YMCA will provide two staff per eight children. While one staff member is with the children, the other one will be cleaning and sanitizing, Harrison said.
Despite the results from the needs assessment, only one person has signed their children up so far. Harrison said the YMCA won’t be flooded on the first day, which allows the staff a little more time to get acclimated to all the changes.
Children are not required to wear masks or gloves at the YMCA, but parents can equip their children with personal protection equipment if they desire, Harrison said.
The program costs $39 a day, and Harrison said the high cost is associated with the price of cleaning equipment needed to keep the facility sanitized.
Those interested can email Harrison at [email protected] or check out the YMCA’s Facebook page and website for more information.
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
