The Child Care Network in Ann Arbor has seen about a 32% increase in requests for child care assistance since the pandemic started.
Since March, the network has provided child care referrals to 235 families in Washtenaw County. In 2019, the network helped a total of 158 families in the county. Annette Sobocinski is the executive director of the Child Care Network and says the demand is up, because many parents still need to report to work in person and don’t have someone to look after their child. She adds that the network provides financial assistance to low-income parents who can’t afford child care.
Annette Sobocinski: Typically, it’s a partnership between a family and child care provider and us, and children are awarded child care tuition scholarships. And it is meant to increase access for young children to high quality early learning programs.
The network works with over 300 child care providers in Washtenaw County. For information on how to receive assistance through the network, click here.
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— Jorge Avellan is a reporter for 89.1 WEMU News. Contact him at 734.487.3363 or email him javellan@emich.edu
