The YMCA of Greater Indianapolis wants to help bring down the cost of child care for some of its families, but the organization needs help.
The YMCA plans to pick up some of the cost for families who receive state assistance after the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration announced it would cut its child care voucher reimbursement rates.
They hope to raise $750,000 to close what they’ve called a child care gap. They estimate about 350 YMCA families are currently unable to bridge the gap on their own.
Last month, administration officials said they would cut rates by 10% to 35% depending on a child’s age to meet a $225 million gap in funding. The new rates take effect this month.
In a news release, YMCA officials said families with the state voucher could previously receive full coverage for a week of before- and after-school care — a value of $75 a week.
Now, many of those vouchers only cover half the cost, YMCA officials said. This month, the YMCA is picking up the bill for its families — an investment of $22,000 per week.
But, YMCA leadership said that’s not sustainable in the long term. So, they’re launching a new fundraising campaign to help support these families through the end of the year.
“With affordable child care, working parents will be forced out of the workforce and families already living on the edge will face impossible choices,” YMCA of Greater Indianapolis CEO Gregg Hiland said in the news release. “This is about more than child care; it’s about economic stability, family well-being and the future of our community.”
You can visit the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis’ website to contribute to the YMCA’s new Childcare Stability Fund.
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Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
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