EUGENE, Ore – As the school year draws to a close, many families who have relied on child care provided by K-12 schools in response to COVID-19 will need child care for the summer. Most school programs will close by the end of June. Some summer camps will operate but will have limited capacity under state guidelines. Consequently, parents may have difficulty finding summer child care.
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, about 400 licensed child care programs operated in Lane County. About half are closed, but many remain open and are currently enrolling for summer. Enrolling soon will ensure summer care for parents, and financial viability for the small businesses that provide child care, many of which are owned and operated by women and minorities.
Oregon’s licensed child care programs adhere to strict health and safety guidelines established and monitored by the state. Providers take required continuing education and have established expertise in child development.
Quality Care Connections is Lane County’s child care resource and referral agency, offered through Lane Community College. QCC provides education and assistance to providers, and educates parents about quality child care. Parents may also call 2-1-1, the statewide helpline, for a list of providers.
“Parents are under a lot of stress right now and are facing one of the most important decisions they make: choosing a trusted professional to care for their children. We are here to calm their concerns and to provide them with valuable information that will assist them in making informed decisions,” said Theya Joslin, director at Quality Care Connections at LCC.
Lane is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabilities Employer
For more information about Lane Community College:
Lane is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabilities Employer
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Lane Community College educates over 25,000 students annually at six locations across Lane County and online. Students and alumni from all 50 states and 79 countries create more than an $850 million dollar impact on the local economy, helping to support more than 13,000 local jobs. Lane provides affordable, quality, professional technical and college transfer programs; business development and employee training; academic, language and life skills development; and lifelong personal development and enrichment courses.