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Parents and Child Development Resources urge county support for childcare capital campaign
Summary
Speakers at the Jan. 21 public-comment period urged York County supervisors to support Child Development Resources' capital campaign for a consolidated family resource center and raised broader concerns about childcare availability and affordability for school-age children.
During the citizen comment period at the Jan. 21 Board of Supervisors meeting, Child Development Resources (CDR) supporters and a CDR parent described the organization's services and asked the county to consider a contribution to a capital campaign to renovate a former school into a family resource center.
Sanford ("Sandy") Warner, speaking as a former CDR board chair, said CDR seeks $12 million to renovate Wilder Mill Elementary School into a regional family resource center serving York County, James City County, Williamsburg and Poquoson, and that York County was asked for a $500,000 local contribution as part of a multi-jurisdictional funding package.
"The short-term savings for your investment ... is our programs prevent crisis escalation requiring EMS, law enforcement and ER visits," Warner said, arguing for high return-on-investment in prevention.
Shardae McNeal, a York County resident and CDR client, described how early intervention services helped her child, born extremely prematurely, to make developmental progress and catch up to peers. She said therapists from CDR provided rapid assessments and at-home services during the child's infancy.
Another commenter raised child-care shortages for middle-school-age children and affordability concerns, saying families sometimes place children in low-quality care because of cost and limited options.
Why it matters: Local funding and facility consolidation for early-childhood services affects access to therapy, developmental screenings and family support, and can reduce pressure on emergency and school services. County participation in a multi-jurisdictional capital campaign would be a policy decision requiring budget consideration.
Provenance: Public-comment remarks at the Jan. 21 meeting (citizen comment period beginning at 01:22:06 and continuing into the planning session).
