More than 200 child care centers in western North Carolina have been damaged by Helene. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, at least 55 of the hardest-hit centers are expected to remain closed “for the foreseeable future.”
“Unfortunately, we're hearing that some of the programs are going to require 6-9 months and some longer, some shorter, to get back,” said Amy Cubbage, president of the North Carolina Partnership for Children and the statewide Smart Start network.
Any child care center that sustained water damage must have its facilities and water inspected by licensing officials before it can reopen, according to the Blue Ridge Partnership for Children.
“We are hearing such a wide variety of situations on the ground… a lot of the flooding problems, so carpet and damaged materials, the need to throw out furniture, mold growing already,” Cubbage described.
The Department of Health and Human Services is developing emergency operations plans to help centers reopen if they've lost power, drinking water or important records.
MaryLee Yearick is with the Blue Ridge Partnership for Children, which works with child care providers in Avery, Mitchell and Yancey counties. Only one child care center in their area has reopened so far. Many providers are facing high costs and lost income because they rely on tuition from families to pay their bills.
“Centers are worried about how to pay their staff, they're worried about what's to come next with parents being out of jobs,” Yearick said. “It's just a big, heavy concern right now.”
A major source of state funding to support the early education industry will run out as the calendar year closes. Earlier this year, state lawmakers extended child care stabilization grants that were originally intended to keep providers open through the pandemic. The state reduced that funding this quarter of the fiscal year, and it will run out completely at the end of the year.
“It does come at a time when there is a real crisis in the child care sector, and families are already struggling to find high quality care,” Cubbage said.
The North Carolina General Assembly's initial disaster relief package passed earlier this month did not include funding for child care providers, although it did offer licensing flexibility. Advocates are urging for the next relief bill to include funding to help retain teachers.
“I’m hopeful that the General Assembly will be able to put some money into that in this second tranche of relief, which we are hopeful for,” Cubbage said.
