Officials talk child care in light of YMCA center’s closure
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Lycoming County commissioners this week discussed the need to provide early learning and child care services locally, an ongoing issue thrust into the spotlight by recent events.
Commissioner Rick Mirabito said lack of sufficient services not only puts strains on families in need of child care but the entire community.
The recent forced closing of the YMCA Child Care Center following allegations of abuse, negligence and other issues has only exacerbated the problem.
"This is a crisis for our community," he said.
Mirabito said it's time for commissioners to make good on an earlier commitment to use $1 million of American Rescue Plan funding for early learning programs.
Without sufficient available child care, many families otherwise considering a move to Lycoming County will go elsewhere.
"At the end of the day, if we don't solve this problem, we will continue to face a population decline," he said. "This is not a problem just for people with families."
Mirabito said STEP Inc. and Firetree Place are two organizations serious about doing something about the problem.
Firetree, he noted, has come up with a pilot program that involves paid training for daycare workers.
Insufficient staffing at early learning centers is due largely in part to the low employee pay, according to Mirabito.
Commissioner Scott Metzger noted that child care employees earn about $10 an hour, a wage less than that paid to fast food workers.
Tom Schaech, of Muncy Township, told commissioners good-paying jobs are needed to retain young people in Lycoming County.
"The problem will not go away by ignoring it," Mirabito said. "Whether you have children or not, it affects you."