Northwest YMCA child-care center to close next month

Nov. 04--The YMCA of Monroe County announced Friday that it will shut down its child-care center at its northwest facility.

The Center for Children and Families, which provides care and educational services for children 6 weeks through 5 years of age, will close Dec. 22. The center started in 2013, and since its opening, the YMCA has subsidized the program with nearly $100,000 each year. Additional subsidies, such as state vouchers that are not guaranteed from year to year, have totaled nearly $200,000 annually.

"It's just something we've been trying to sustain for four years, and this year we decided we could no longer sustain it," marketing and communications director Jodi Baker said. Raising fees for families, who are "already paying a premium price for the program," was not a viable solution, according to a news release.

Enrollment at the center wasn't where it needed to be to stay open past 2017.

The center currently serves 87 families, totaling 105 children. The center employs 47 people -- 18 full time and 29 part time. They were informed of the decision to close on Friday afternoon along with the families that would be affected by the closure. It's unclear at the moment how many of these employees will stay with the YMCA in some capacity, Baker said.

"It is with a heavy heart we make this announcement," YMCA of Monroe County CEO Jason Winkle said in the release. "It was certainly not an easy decision to make, as it significantly impacts the lives of our YCCF families and staff members."

Parent Renee Petrina enrolled her 2-year-old son at the center in August. Petrina said she was shaking when she read the email Friday afternoon informing parents of the closure, and actually left work early to go to another child-care facility to see if it had room for her son.

"We have been so happy with the teachers and the facility," Petrina said of the Y program. "To send out an email on a Friday afternoon ... We (parents) had no idea this was coming; it seems like the teachers had no idea this was coming. It just seems like such a waste."

On a private Facebook group page, parents expressed frustration and anger, while others discussed ideas to potentially save the center. Petrina and her husband brought flowers for some of the teachers when they picked up their son Friday afternoon.

"This has to be such a hard day for all of them," she said.

YMCA of Monroe County board president Jim Murphy acknowledged what a difficult time it must be for all affected by the decision.

"This situation leaves the board heartbroken for all children, parents and employees affected," Murphy said in the release. "We know this is a difficult time, but we hope our members understand these tough decisions are made to ensure the YMCA can continue to follow its mission while providing leading services to our community."

Monroe County United Ministries Executive Director Erin Predmore said she has reached out to Winkle and others at the YMCA about the possibility of creating a partnership.

MCUM operates two child-care centers in Bloomington, including one downtown at the First United Methodist Church that it took over from the church in August.

"I sent them an email and said we would be happy to sit down and talk to them," Predmore said. "We need those high-quality spots, and we need to keep that anchor on the west side of town."

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