The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
‘Just not enough room for everyone’
Torrington officials say day care in demand
TORRINGTON — Finding an open child care center is something many parents are facing this week as they return to work, while demand is exceeding the number of places that are open.
Torrington held an online forum Monday to discuss the state’s Phase 2 reopening plans, which includes day care centers and preschools. Gov. Ned Lamont’s latest amendments to executive orders regulating businesses during the pandemic allow these facilities to have up to 50 people, but no more than 10 at a time can be in a classroom or play area.
Because some child care centers are not reopening immediately, some that are, are overwhelmed. And many summer day camps, often held at local churches and parks and recreation departments, have been canceled.
“There’s just not enough room for everyone right now,” said Jana Freer, child and family services director of the Northwest Connecticut YMCA. “Our phone is ringing off the hook. The only thing we can do is help the people who are going back to work. There are places that aren’t open right now, because they can’t afford to be. We have people going back to work, and they want to send their kids to day care. It’s so difficult.”
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“There are places that aren’t open right now, because they can’t afford to be.” Jana Freer, Northwest Connecticut YMCA
Director Rista Malanca on the call were city representatives including Tom Stansfield from the Torrington Area Health District, fire chief and Emergency Management Director Peter Towey, city planner Martin Connor and Mayor Elinor Carbone.
Cassandra Weik, program support coordinator for Brooker Memorial, also said the early childhood education and health center was receiving many calls from parents. “We’re getting calls from families who have (been) with us, and those who have not enrolled their children, and they’re all looking for child care,” she said. “People are also using 2-1-1 to check on our status.
“We are at limited capacity right now, and we’re reaching out to families who previously enrolled for the summer to find who’s coming back and who’s not,” Weik said. “We’ll move from there; we need to find out who’s coming back.”
Weik is working with Malanca to post updates on state policies and procedures on the city website, torringtonct.org, as well as Brooker Memorial, to provide information on available child care for parents. She agreed that both sides of the child care challenge were feeling overwhelmed.
“It’s a general feeling,” she said. “If I can do anything to help, I”m trying to do that; luckily, so far, we’re running very smoothly at Brooker Memorial. I”m happy to be a resource to people who are stressed or looking for guidance.”
Freer, who posted a video on the YMCA’s Facebook page detailing the YMCA’s preventative measures, said she made the video to show parents what is in place to keep children safe. In the video, Freer explained that the children would have their temperature taken when they arrive, wash their hands, and stay in the same group all day. Schedules are being staggered to keep groups of children independent from each other; and to avoid crowding, and each child will be delivered to their parents at the door at the end of the day.
“There’s a lot of misconception on what’s going on inside the day care centers — people think kids are getting a physical going through the door, that they’re staying separated once they get inside, things like that,” Freer said. “The kids are still having a fun-filled day.
“I think the video has been a great tool for parents, to see what we’re doing,” Freer said. “They’re still playing and learning and exploring.”
Jan Sosnicki, director of Hilltop Christian Education Center, said she recently was on a group conference call with Beth Bye, head of the state’s Office of Early Childhood.
“It sounded to me like they were going to (increase) the number of children allowed, but they weren’t sure when,” Sosnicki said.
Hilltop follows the local school calendar, meaning it closes when school is out for the summer season. “We don’t plan to reopen until the start of the school year, so we wanted to know what was going to be expected.” Sosnicki said.
Sosnicki said many parents were concerned about sending their children to day care now. “I got a call from a family who has been with us for two years, and they’re pulling their 4-yearold because they’re concerned about the virus,” she said. “So it’ll be interesting to see what happens. I’m curious to see how this will play out.”
To reach Rista Malanca, businesses can email Rista_malanca@torringtonct.org. To reach Cassandra Weik at Brooker Memorial, call 860 489-1328 ext 129.