Dip in available child care providers presents challenges for families
EVENING TO WORK OUT HOW THIS
IS GOING TO PLAY OUT BEGINNING
FRIDAY. POINT HERE STORY, OK?
THANK YOU, BRIAN.
>> NORTH CAROLINA IS LOSING
A STARTLING NUMBER OF CHILD
CARE PROVIDERS. NEW DATA SHOWS
IN AUGUST ALONE MORE THAN 47
CLOSE IN THAT SAME MONTH.
ABOUT HALF THAT NUMBER OPENED
FOR BUSINESS WRAL'S. HEIDI KIRK
JOINS US LIVE FROM THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AND I THIS SOUNDS LIKE
SOME BAD NEWS FOR FAMILIES
ACROSS OUR AREA WHEN IT COMES
TO COST.
>> DAN LENA, DEFINITELY BAD
NEWS. AND I'LL MENTION THAT
OFFICIALS HERE AT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES OVER SEE THOSE CHILD
CARE FACILITIES. NOW IT'S
SENDING LOTS OF THEM WITH MORE
CLOSING THAN OPENING TO FIGURE
OUT A BACKUP PLAN FOR THEIR
KIDS, FORCING SOME PARENTS TO
EVEN STAY HOME.
>> A LITTLE BELIEVERS ACADEMY
GIVES PARENTS LIKE TYRA ONLY
PEACE OF MIND WHERE SHE'S AT
WORK BECAUSE WE CAN WORK.
WE CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR KEYS.
BUT KEEPING THESE DOORS OPEN
ISN'T EASY. EVEN FOR PROVIDERS,
WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE LIKE
CASSANDRA BROOKS, YOU CAN ONLY
HOLD ON SO LONG. SHE SAYS IN
RECENT YEARS THERE'S BEEN LESS
SUPPORT FROM THE STATE AND WITH
RISING COSTS TO OPERATE THE
FACILITIES LIKE HERS PAYING THE
BILLS IS MORE CHALLENGING AS
SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE OUT
LOANS TO TRY TO MEET PAYROLL IN
AUGUST ALONE. 47 PROVIDERS
ACROSS THE STATE SHUT DOWN AND
BROOKS THINKS THAT NUMBER WILL
GROW, ESPECIALLY AS WE GET TO
THE END OF THE YEAR. I HAVE A
FEW PEOPLE THAT I KNOW. I SAY
IT.
>> AND THEN THIS YEAR, THIS
EVENT. SO THEY'RE JUST TRYING
TO, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE FAMILIES
TO DECEMBER WHEN THEY DO HAVE
TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS. IT MEANS
FAMILIES BE WE'LL HAVE TO FIND
ANOTHER OPTION. WHAT WOULD YOU
HAVE DONE IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE A
PLACE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS?
>> I WOULD BE HOME WITH MY
CHILDREN AND WE JUST HAVE TO BE
LEARNING AT HOME AND DOING IT
TO THE NEWS AT HOME. BUT IN THE
CHEST WITH THE SAME TIME.
>> BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE INCOME
COMING IN.
>> NOW COMING UP AT 6 O'CLOCK,
WE ASKED STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS
WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO HELP
CENTERS LIKE LITTLE BELIEVERS,
KEEP THEIR DOORS OPEN. WE'LL
HAVE THEIR PARENTS ARE COMING
UP, HEIDI KIRK, WRAL, NEWS LIVE