To best help families with their childcare needs during this trying time, Willamalane is asking for community input to best shape their child-care programs by assessing their current needs.
“We want to ensure that our childcare programs continue to meet the needs of our community, especially as those needs may rapidly shift this season,” said Caitlin Esping, Willamalane Youth Programs Supervisor.
Willamalane is distributing a survey to better understand the need in our community. Results will help shape programs, locations, times, group size, and registration methods. Community members can share thoughts and fill out the survey with a link on their website.
In partnering with Springfield Public Schools, which has moved online, “we’ve gotten creative with our spaces to increase our capacity while still adhering to all state safety regulations,” Esping said. Their main school-age program is Springfield Squirrels, a full-time care program that supports students starting the year with distance learning.
While Springfield Squirrels will best support online learners enrolled in SPS Online, The program also supports out-of-district students. Care runs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and the program runs from Sept. 21 through Dec. 18. Families can register for the program on Willamalane’s website.
