(WXYZ) — The COVID-19 Pandemic has been especially challenging for working parents. In many cases, families are having to find new child care options. Now many are wondering what their options will be for after school care when schools reopen.
Nannies are an option, but they are in demand and cost more than other options.
It is not as easy as usual to find childcare in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some child care centers run by people who feel they are at risk of severe complications from the virus have temporarily closed. Some child care centers have decreased capacity to allow for social distancing.
So what will happen when schools reopen?
Kylee Wilson, the Director of Fenton Early Learning Center says that child care centers are struggling to answer this question because they are waiting for school districts to tell them their plans. For example - will children be in schools full time?
“They said the first week of August. So we are just waiting on that. My son is in 1st grade and I don’t even know what I am going to do with him yet. It is hard for parents right now,” said Wilson.
At schools preparing to reopen there is one big challenge for before and after school care programs.
“What it comes down to is having sufficient staffing for these programs. Because there is a reluctance to coming back to work for some of our staff,” said Dr. Paul Salah, Huron Valley Schools Superintendent.
Dr. Salah says he is planning to offer before and after school care if they open. The same type of social distancing and safety protocols children experience in school will be in place in those programs.
“Certainly our intention is to offer every opportunity possible for our families to be able to get back into the work industry and get our economy moving,” said Dr. Salah.
To learn more about job opportunities at Huron Valley Schools go to hvs.org/district/hr
Additional Coronavirus information and resources:
Click here for a page with resources including a COVID-19 overview from the CDC, details on cases in Michigan, a timeline of Governor Gretchen Whitmer's orders since the outbreak, coronavirus' impact on Southeast Michigan, and links to more information from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC and the WHO.
View a global coronavirus tracker with data from Johns Hopkins University.
See complete coverage on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.
Visit our The Rebound Detroit, a place where we are working to help people impacted financially from the coronavirus. We have all the information on everything available to help you through this crisis and how to access it.