WSU Vancouver’s Child Development Program is the latest childcare center to shut its doors as the COVID-19 pandemic strains the finances of an already struggling industry. While parents and workers become desperate for solutions, students must adapt to the absence of the beloved academic program.
The CDP was utilized by many VanCougs in providing full-time preschool to children ages 3 to 5 while parents could attend classes. The program included a well-rounded curriculum for children, including subjects such as natural sciences, literacy and creative arts.
Like every other industry, childcare centers have been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant percentage have closed down entirely. Michele Volk, Clark College’s director of services for children and family, explained COVID-19 has increased uncertainties in a field already working under razor-thin margins.
“There are significant challenges as [childcare services] are unaffordable for most middle and lower-class families. It is a burden for families, and one that with reduced spaces, very much concerns me,” Volk said.
Volk referred to how economic equity drives the childcare industry for both workers and families. Recent increases to minimum wage and other operational expenses force childcare centers to raise tuition prices. Many middle and lower-class families then remove their kids from these services due to newly unaffordable costs. As childcare centers receive fewer paying clients, shutting down becomes the only viable option.
“I can absolutely understand WSU Vancouver’s decision closing for this time. I am saddened but not surprised. It is an exceptional program, but there are no easy answers in early learning right now. … Most programs that are operating during the pandemic are doing so at a loss,” Volk said.
Elizabeth Soliday, WSU Vancouver’s human development academic director, was involved in the decision of closing down the CDP. She explained the primary reason for so many closures boils down to economic circumstances.
“It was an agonizing decision. We serve 78 different families, many of them are from the community [including] WSU Vancouver students, faculty and staff,” Soliday said.
Operations could no longer continue with a limited number of enrollees. In addition to impacts for workers and parents, this decision affected human development students who utilized the CDP as a unique on-campus learning possibility. Soliday said some students have decided to put off their internship requirements for this year due to COVID-19 related concerns.
“All students who have wanted an internship placement, we have been able to place them. … It really has not changed in terms of the curriculum. The only thing that has changed is the ability of an on-site internship,” Soliday said.
WSU Vancouver is providing support to the community as faculty and students are left without childcare. For faculty, the university’s system-wide human resources department compiled a comprehensive list of COVID-19 support that includes childcare sources. For students, WSU Vancouver currently offers a grant to help offset childcare costs up to $1,000 per semester. Unfortunately, full costs are still left unpaid.
To learn more about resources on available providers, financial assistance and COVID-19 resources, click the link here. Parents can also contact Clark College’s Child and Family Studies daycare at cfs@clark.edu, as they are readily accepting of WSU Vancouver students and their families if they receive enough interest for an additional class.