AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Greater Austin YMCA hopes to increase affordable child care in the city.
It’s a goal in the YMCA’s 2030 Vision, which outlines strategic initiatives the nonprofit hopes to accomplish in the next six years. Greater Austin YMCA Chief Youth Development Officer Jason Gindele said they listed affordable child care as a goal in the 2030 vision.
“The vision over the next many years is to continue to serve as many children and as many families as possible from all backgrounds across the entire region.”
Jason Gindele, Greater Austin YMCA Chief Youth Development Officer
Gindele said the organization plans to do that by launching YMCA Tomorrow Academies.
“It means things like a focus on early literacy,” Gindele said. “It focuses on outdoor time, low ratios, good teachers, nutrition and health.”
Each location would have about 100 students, according to Gindele. The goal is to grow the capacity of the Greater Austin YMCA’s existing childcare programs from about 120 kids to 1,000 in the next five years.
“We want to make sure it’s accessible for families of any income level,” Gindele said. “We also offer some financial assistance for families to make sure that we’re not turning anyone away. We want to make sure they get the care that they need.”
Gindele said they expect to open two Tomorrow Academies at the beginning of next year.
‘It’s helped me’
Roxanne Preston is an Extend-A-Care YMCA Customer Service Representative.
“The program starts when school is dismissed,” Preston said. “The teachers walk the children to the program.”
Her 5-year-old son also attends Extend-A-Care as well.
“It’s helped me a lot. I know when my son does attend the child care program, I know that he’s very well taken care of.”
Roxanne Preston, Extend-A-Care YMCA Parent
Preston said she welcomes these future expansions. It gives her a chance to help more people access this resource.
“I get to talk to families who are struggling, and I get to collaborate with my team to try to come up with a way that we can benefit them,” Preston said.
