YWCA Boulder County To Expand Affordable Child Care

BOULDER COUNTY, CO — YWCA Boulder County's Children's Alley is undergoing an $800,000 expansion to facilitate more affordable childcare in the county, the organization announced. The new expansion will provide space for 24 more children in the wobbler and toddler age range.

The expansion will convert existing meeting rooms and other space into new classrooms, a larger kitchen and an outdoor learning center, the organization said. Children's Alley will grow from 2,500 square feet to 4,000 square feet.

Achievement gaps start early for children in families with low incomes, the center said. Access to high-quality early care and education programs helps kids develop the academic, emotional and social skills they need to blossom and succeed. YWCA Boulder County is the only organization on the Front Range to offer drop-in, sliding scale childcare.

“Affordable, quality early childhood education is critical in our work to ensure family services that facilitate equity in our community by empowering economic advancement, health and safety for everyone in our community, regardless of their economic situation,” said Debbie Pope, the CEO of YWCA Boulder County.

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Child care in Colorado is more expensive than in-state tuition at a four-year public college, according to the Economic Policy Institute. Parents in Colorado shell out $15,325 for infant care on average every year or $1,277 each month.

By U.S. Department of Health and Human Service standards, infant care is only affordable for 6.2 percent of Colorado families.

“The increasing scientific evidence supporting the importance of early childhood education from infancy to kindergarten readiness is why the YWCA is committed to expanding our programming to support more families in our community,” said Kate Hise, the director of Children's Alley.

Children’s Alley supports parents and their children with emergency drop-in and long-term child care. The center offers non-traditional hours, separate infant care, services for children needing additional supports, a meal program, a health/wellness and active play program, parenting classes and a preschool program.