Our Community Child Care Respite Program partners daycares, willing to offer their support with families in desperate need of child care. Last month we had one new daycare join our program and we were able to help four new families access care for their children.  

Megan is a mother who recently used our program for her two children. Megan lived with her boyfriend and their two children until he physically assaulted her. He had previously been emotionally abusive, but this was the first time that he hurt her physically. Megan decided to make a change for the better. She changed the locks on her doors and would not let her boyfriend back in to her house. When he showed up at her house and yelled and pounded on the door, she called the police and eventually succeeded in breaking off their relationship. Unfortunately, her decision to protect herself had some challenging complications.  

Megan's boyfriend had cared for the children while she worked so she was now left without childcare. Her income was low and she was afraid she couldn't afford daycare. She took time off work but her employers only gave her a week to get something figured out.  A social worker referred Megan to the Child Care Respite Program and the coordinator found great childcare for both Megan's children. The Child Care Respite Program paid childcare fees for two months and assisted Megan with applying for subsidy.  During these two months, Megan managed to save up a bit of money so she could keep paying for childcare once the program closed with her.

While her children were at daycare, learning and playing, Megan was able to go back to work, attend court, and get counseling.  Without access to childcare, Megan might not have become an independent, single mom.