United Way partnering with Peninsula localities to expand child care services
A new program started by United Way of the Virginia Peninsula and in collaboration with regional localities is helping to address the need for child care services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Care and Supervision for School-Age Children is a grant-voucher program that helps child care providers expand their services for schoolage children, while also providing tuition-free assistance for qualifying families. The program is funded with $1 million in coronavirus relief funding between the eight participating Peninsula localities.
These include Williamsburg and James City and York counties, as well as the counties of Gloucester and Mathews, and the cities of Hampton, Newport News and Poquoson, according to an email from Charvalla West, chief operations officer and director of community impact for United Way of the Virginia Peninsula.
Williamsburg has contributed $29,151 in CARES Act funding to the program, while York County has contributed $88,917 and James City County has contributed $118,754, respectively.
“The CASSAC program is a true testament to collaboration and what it looks like to work together,” West said in the email.
Peninsula families have been able to apply to the program since Sept. 28. Qualifying families must be working either full or part time or are enrolled in a workforce education program, and their children must be enrolled in virtual learning for school this fall. Eligible families receive up to six weeks of tuition-free assistance from an approved child care provider, West said in a phone interview.
United Way of t he Virginia Peninsula has partnered with Smart Beginnings of the Virginia Peninsula to screen for suitable child care providers. Approved providers then receive funding to improve their WiFi access, expand their physical spaces, hire additional staff, purchase more personal protective equipment and any other qualifying expenses, West said.
As of Thursday, there were 535 total child care slots for virtual learners in all eight localities, and West estimated that 375 slots are still available for families. This includes 15 available of the 26 total child care slots for virtual learners i n Williamsburg, James City and York combined.
These numbers change daily as more providers and families are approved for CASSAC, and about 188 children in total are expected to be served through this program, which lasts till the end of the year.
“Parents have had to choose between their paychecks and their children’s education, but this creative and collaborative solution, helps to ease that burden and provides support for students across the Peninsula,” West said in the email.
Families that are interested in applying to CASSAC can call 757-2292222, while child care providers interested in the program should call 757-240-2731. For more information visit uwvp. org/care-and-supervision-school-age-childrencassac.