Crawford County Kids Association Makes Moves in Child Care
Birth to Five Illinois is thrilled to have had a part in funding the Crawford County Kids Association, allowing them the opportunity to create an amazing organization that has worked tirelessly to elevate the need for quality Early Childhood Education and Care and raise funds to build a much needed child care center.
Crawford County Kids Association Breaks Ground on Child Care Facility
September 19, 2024
Original coverage in WTWO/WAWV by Garrett Drake.
A ground breaking marked the beginning of improved child care in Crawford County, which was identified as a need for the area all the way back in 2022.
A major milestone in Crawford Co. as the ground breaking for the new $1.5 million Crawford Co. Kids Association. President Resa Shaner says the facility will allow local children to thrive in the classroom.
I think it will be exciting when kids that are in second grade come in and they know how to read a little bit better than they do now,” Shaner said. “We have kids coming out of COVID that are not where they need to be academically and this project will greatly aide our kids, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Crawford Co. is defined as a child care desert, or area where there are at least three children under the age of five for each available child care slot. This facility will bring 110 more slots. Illinois state senator Chapin Rose says he is glad to see the community identify a problem, then work together to solve it.
“When I first was lucky enough to be elected to represent Crawford County, the first thing I heard from virtually everybody was child care,” Rose said. “Employers need it so they can have employees, employees need it so they can go to work, talking to everybody from the big employers to the small employers, to community leaders, this was on their list at the top.”
Officials say that the project is expected to be complete within the next six months, and it will bring more than 20 jobs to the community.
New Child Care Facility Breaks Ground in Crawford County on Thursday
September 19, 2024
On Thursday, leaders broke ground on the new Crawford County Early Education Childcare Facility.
The future site of the facility is located on Highland Avenue right across from the Robinson High School. It will be an 8,900 square foot building with a capacity of 110.
The Crawford County Kids Association did a survey and gathered data two years ago and discovered a big need for more childcare options; as a result, they formed a group aiming to address the problem.
The project will cost about $1.5 million and is expected to wrap up in about six months.
The Crawford County Kids Association has laid out a timeline for current projects to improve childcare in the area, including efforts to grow the workforce. That can be found below.