Adams Co. CAREs forms

3 weeks, 3 days ago by Scott Hardy

Will focus on improving number of, quality of child-care providers

Eight different community organizations have introduced a plan to improve child care options in Quincy and Adams County.

At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, the groups announced the formation of Adams County CAREs. It's a new program to help address child care shortages in the region and to improve child care accessibility and support providers, and ensure quality early education for families across Adams County through a three-pronged approach. That includes paid child care internships for hands-on experience with the Quincy Area Vo-Tech Center, scholarships to John Wood Community College for future caregivers, and sign-on bonuses of up to three thousand dollars for new child care providers. The Vo-Tech students would intern at the Blessing Health System Lauretta M. Eno Early Learning Center. Right now, around 36 hundred kids under the age of 5 are thought to need child care; however, licensed child care providers can only meet 43 percent of that demand.

The Adams County CAREs initiative is made possible by an up-to $250,000 investment by the Adams County Board, with matching support from philanthropic and private partners.