“The after-school crisis her family found themselves in is not limited to one city or state.
For working parents, the hours between the end of the school day and the end of the traditional workday leave a gap millions struggle to fill. Thousands of school districts offer no after-school options at all, and some communities
have just a single nonprofit or
church program available.”
VOX: AfterSchool Education-Childcare-Expanded Learning
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WIZDOM KIDS BOOK COMING SOON!
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Hephzibah Naeem 6/14/23
PEEKING INTO AFTERSCHOOL CARE IN AMERICA
After-School care has seen its share of shifts and struggles amidst a pre-pandemic situation and post pandemic afterthought.
According to After-School Alliance, the supply does not meet the demand. Less than a 1/4 of the extended care demand is being met, allegedly leaving a whopping 75% of families struggling to find adequate care after-school. The research shares that about 8 million kids are enrolled in ASP’s, yet shortages remain.
The top cited barrier to adequate care is service costs, and since the pandemic, the decrease in labor availability.
Although the demand is hot, the public investment in after school care runs cold.
According to The Highlight by Vox, in 2022, the federal government allocated $1.3 billion in ASP funding, yet every year the majority of request for federal grants are denied, while state and local governments provide little subsidy.
PROBLEMS ADDRESSED WITHOUT SOLUTIONS OFFERED, TURN INTO RANTS RENDERED….
So Let’s Look at ALTERNATIVES
IDEAS for SOLUTIONS!
Now that we have covered a portion of the problem, it is imperative that we start seeking solutions, and some of those solutions may need to come from the support of our community instead of our government. Let’s face it, something has to give. And typically its more money out of a parents pocket, that need to be given. What if we approached this need more creatively. Higher fees do not always solve the problems, and longer days for our students in programs is costing the whole family in more ways than one; we need to find something that works for the family.
With the cost of living going up, the demands on households is crushing for many who are trying to keep their heads above waters. Families need alternatives! Families need suitable situations that can solve the problem for care and contribute to the well-being of the family. So, let’s consider a few ways to address the problems of extended care. Perhaps it is something old, something new, and something borrowed.
COLLEGE KIDS AND TEENS!
Teenagers and college students are still the best way to extend care to kids while putting some money in the pocket of a young adult. Maybe your community can come together and consider starting a good ole’ fashion Babysitters Club!
Think about it! Get the students set up for success with some leadership, childcare training, maybe a certification they can be proud of that prepares them for the task; and ultimately, a way to get your neighbors involved in caring for the kids in your neighborhood!
Side Note: If your creative think of something more you can offer that is fitting. For Example- financial literacy education to your caretaker, or extending any area of expertise to the student caring for your kids to make it even more worth their while!
HOMESCHOOL MOMMAS!
How About Homeschool Parents and/or Groups?
Many mothers need supplemental income and can offer a place for your kiddos after school hours. How about coming together at a central location to have homeschool moms that barter their services to you or receive a generous pay for caring for kids in a small or large community? Now, this pay can come from the parents collectively so its not running parents $30/day and up. Homeschool parents can offer services from their home, or even a community recreation center!
Homeschool parents are really savvy about free venues and places to take small or large groups of kids to enrich their extended care experience. And if you don’t want your kids traveling anywhere except for one main/central location, then you can set it up to be that way…remember, I am simply posing alternative solutions to extended care problems without breaking the bank or adding more stress to your households. There are many homeschool moms who wouldn’t mind making extra $$ per day for opening their home to a few extra students. Think about it this way! Are you a small business owner?
If so, what could you offer from your business in the area of discounts or free services to offset your childcare expense and/or add to the benefits of the person caring for your kid(s). Homeschool parents would do well to consider that their services as an independent contractor can lead to big tax savings. Providing services in your home provides tax write-offs, because your services can qualify you as an in-home business operation that can provide numerous tax benefits.
Sounds like a mutually beneficial exchange already, and a win win!
MICROSCHOOLS ARE SCHOOL-HOUSES REINVENTED!
OH’ BEHAVE!
Checkout local Microschools for possible extended care options as well! Microschools are popping up everywhere out of need for alternative education. This is truly something old and something borrowed, but definitely something right on time! Microschools need supplemental income! Check your local listings and see what they can do for you!
LIFESTYLE COMMUNITIES HAVE EXTRA SPACE AND AMENITIES!
Do you live in a Lifestyle Community? Consider working with the rental office to hire a local student / qualified neighborhood resident, a trusted family member, or professional who can accept a certain amount per hour/day to care for kids only in that Community, where services are rendered at the rental office/business office/community center within your neighborhood. In neighborhoods like this, the amenities are in place to aid in a proper care environment, such as a playground or a kids pool area if a parent was comfortable with that arrangement. This is nothing new, and I have seen numerous rental offices take advantage of this opportunity by receiving government funds to provide before care and/or aftercare, and even summer care to neighborhood students. The awesome thing about these communities is they recieved government subsidies for every aspect of care which also included maintenance and food! Now if low income/income qualified communities can do it, Lifestyle Communities can certainly step it up to offer more to contribute to the quality of life for kids and families in their communities!
In times like today, thinking outside the box is the name of the game! And the good news is, thinking outside the box offers a new aroma of freedom and flexibility that could benefit your families in new ways…ways that make your life better. Also, communities typically have apps to connect neighbors and facebook pages for the communities, which provide great opportunities to connect with others who need access to creative childcare opportunities and services. It even creates the ability to connect with those who are business owners who can sweeten the pot as I mentioned before, and offer added benefits to the caregiver/tutor.
INVEST, CONTRIBUTE, REAP THE BOUNTY!
Could you potentially invest in an operation in your lifestyle community that provides services to extended care students? The issue of After-School care options can be an opportunity for you as a business investor! If you could bring a small/medium, yet manageable scale service to your local community, oh the rewards you could reap! Students can be bussed home to eliminate any additional transportation issues. How? Well simple! Students would be bussed to their neighborhood from school per normal bussing from your local school, and instead of being dropped off at home, they can be taken to the location created in your neighborhood for the kids to receive their extended care services! You could even hire a tutor for homework help specifically! Think about the possibilities on the table, because Crisis in Japanese is simply Opportunity, and necessity is still the Mother of Invention!
AFTERSCHOOL BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN SCHOOLS
With the lack of ASP programs in many schools, parents should ask themselves if there is anything they can do to help solve this problem? Can you as a parent supplement your income by starting an After-School program in your local elementary or middle school? How about local businesses? Maybe there are local childcare services who can take advantage of an opportunity to grow and expand their childcare business to have off site services in schools! Additionally, this could be an opportunity to invest in an ASP or become the entrepreneur you want to be by offering a for profit service that uses the school facilities to host that service. The cool thing is you would be solving a problem for the school and a problem for parents in your city by getting in the game and starting your own business with all the resources at your fingertips! Something of this sort could easily be a low cost start up because of the amenities already on site such as a lunch room, classrooms, gymnasium, outdoor space, etc.
GET YOUR JOB TO FLEX ITS CREATIVE MUSCLES AND ALLOW YOU WORK FROM HOME HOURS!
Is it time to require work from home hours to offset the childcare situation? With labor shortages still lingering, employers need reliable employees, and employees need room to breath and juggle work life balance. Maybe it’s time for your boss to be flexible as parents work to make sure their kids are well cared for and that they have the sanity to work outside the home while maintaining a healthy home to the best of their ability. Parents are already stretched thin, and employers will need to offer more care and consideration towards the needs of the family, by ensuring employees have options to suit them at best.
Maybe we need to rethink extended care in new ways that frees kids, parents, and providers from the burn out, the lack of, and the need for. How can you give back to others for their services? The work situation of today has changed! People need more money, yes, people need more freedom and flexibility, yes, and people need to make it make sense for them like maybe they need a healthcare stipend, or tuition reimbursement of some sort. Basically, how can you invest in the person who is caring for your students and make it benefit you all in new ways. Now some of you may be dishing out all the reasons why some of these ideas are a problem, but consider that everything we do has pros, cons, obstacles, and rewards. Your job as the parent/childcare provider is to try anyway despite those factors. Let’s face it, the time has come for us to reimagine our approach to how our kids are cared for and how we can work build relationships where everybody benefits.
LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST..FAMILY OR FRIENDS
Maybe this suggestion doesn’t need to be made, but let’s make it anyhow. Do you have any trusted friend or family member that you can lean on for support. Of course an exchange is a give and a take, so what can you offer that person for services that is economical for you. Narrow it down to make it more realistic or appealing. Do you need them for 2 hours a day, or 3 days a week, or just for transportation to a ASP that doesn’t provide transportation to your students school. Only ask for what you need and you may be able to solve your extended care problem more easily.
DISCLAIMER
My suggestions here are merely ideas to solve extended care problems without waiting on someone else to fix it.
You may not have time to wait on someone else. Additionally, anyone who cares for your child should be trusted, qualified in some capacity, background checked / verified, and overall a good fit for you and your child(ren). You need to vet a person before putting your kids in their care. I would never encourage a parent to put their child in the care of just anyone, so due dilligence is needed, but the alternatives are all around you to solve your extended care problem!
Lastly, there are pros and cons to everything, so weigh those decisions so that you can customize your life around the needs of your family without apologies for doing what’s best for you and yours!
