Child Care Providers in Upstate Work to Meet Rising Demand
In Greenville, the need for child care has surged, prompting local providers to step up their efforts to meet the increasing demand. Families are finding it difficult to secure slots for their children, with many stuck on long waiting lists. For example, Especially Children Child Development Center has witnessed its waiting list grow to about 600 parents, while the center itself can only accommodate 150 students.
New Locations Opened
To tackle this challenge, Especially Children CDC has opened a second location, called Especially Children CDC Too. The Keenons, who own the center, saw an opportunity when another child care provider, The Sunshine House, closed its doors on White Horse Road. After purchasing and renovating the property, the new center opened in late July, adding 175 new slots for families in the area.
Licensing and Regulations
The number of children a provider can accept depends heavily on the licensing rules set by the South Carolina Department of Social Services (SC DSS). All child care centers in the state must adhere to certain regulations, and this includes everything from health and safety inspections to staff-to-child ratios. This year, 40 new child care centers were licensed in the Upstate, contributing to a total of 155 new licensed centers statewide.
Expansions and Challenges
Another local establishment, Brookwood Preschool Academy, has also expanded its capacity, increasing the number of children it serves from 125 to 205. They added five additional classrooms and hired 20 more staff members, which was a significant investment of around $75,000. The director, Renee LaPierre, noted that the community’s growing needs motivated them to make these changes.
Support for New Providers
Resource support is available in South Carolina for those looking to open new child care centers. An organization under the University of South Carolina, South Carolina Child Care Resource & Referral, provides guidance to prospective child care providers. This includes the support of quality care coaches who help with everything from policy writing to staff hiring.
Franchise Options
Some aspiring child care providers choose to open under a franchise because of the resources it offers. For instance, Bill Hyatt, the owner of The Goddard School in Simpsonville and Greenville, is currently constructing a new $7 million facility that will offer 500 new slots. He understands the pressing demand for child care services and aims to alleviate the situation for local families.
Current Trends in Child Care
The growing number of families looking for child care has also highlighted the importance of staffing. Each facility must abide by specific staff-to-child ratios that dictate how many children each staff member can supervise. For example, the state allows a maximum of one staff member for every five infants, rising to one for every 23 children aged six and up.
As the Upstate continues to grow, child care providers remain committed to expanding their services and addressing family needs, signaling a positive trend for the community while highlighting persistent challenges in the sector.
