When it comes to child care locally, the demand is high but the supply is somewhat limited according to Flint Hills Community Health Center Child Care Licensing Specialist Jamie Roberts.
Roberts says numbers have leveled out in terms of the available amount of child care options after 2020 saw a significant decrease in the number of available providers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She explains the loss of providers was due to a few factors, namely the pandemic itself.
Roberts adds that providers choosing to retire or simply move on from the child care profession altogether also played a significant role in the decrease in available providers. While the local area is no longer losing providers at the same level it was just over a year ago, Roberts says there has not been an overabundance of applications for new providers either.
The lack of available providers comes as Roberts says there is a large demand for it in the local area especially for parents of children five-years-old and younger. Because of this, Roberts says both state and local agencies are offering different forms of financial assistance including grants and the waving of certain licensing fees all in an attempt to increase the number of available childcare providers.
If you are interested in becoming a licensed child care provider or would simply like more information you can contact Roberts at FHCHC by calling 620-342-4864 EXT 5 or visit Flinthillshealth.org/childcare.
