The Boys and Girls Club of Moody County has just weeks left to craft a plan as to how it might invest upwards of $500,000 into much-needed childcare resources in the local Flandreau and Moody County community.
The Club learned last fall that it was among 28 communities statewide receiving Governor Kristi Noems Investment Plan for Child Care grant. The initial phase awarded the Club $41,000 for planning purposes. Community meetings have taken place since as the second phase of the application is due by the end of the month.
If the vision outlined in this next step is bold, inclusive, unique in its programming, and better addresses critical community needs the city, the Flandreau Santee Sioux, current child care providers, the school district, business community, and others, the next stage could help the Club realize up to a half million dollar award.
Boys and Girls Club of Moody County CEO Jody Hernandez, along with tribal representatives Ryan Kills-A-Hundred and Jessica Morson, have been meeting with community partners on the opportunity.
The three offered an update to the Flandreau City Council this past week.
Hernandez detailed the findings of community meetings and the ultimate goal of building a new 10,000 square foot space for early child care services. It would be steps away from the current Club facility in the Flandreau Public School complex.
The youth and teen facility, nearing capacity, is slated for expansion this year.
The Club would need an agreement with the city for the land in a very short timeframe if this idea is what goes to the state.
Care would be specifically for children ages 0-5.
Currently, Hernandez said, there are 310 children in the community who need care and dont have it.
All the data states the same thing and all of the groups say the same thing that in this community, there isnt care provided for long enough hours with the casino, the hospital and care center, there arent enough hours provided by the providers. People have to go outside of this community to have care past 5 oclock or 6 oclock, Hernandez told the Council
Licensed care also remains limited with only three local licensed daycare providers. Families often go out of town for that care or get put on a long wait list.
For many local families, the team added, the expense of licensed care is out-of-reach.
Individuals want early learning opportunities for children in the community and are fewThe one thing that was sad is that there were so many barriers people just werent working, said Hernandez.
Then it affected their livelihood, then it affected their life, then it affected other children they might have.
The uniqueness of the project, with the City and Tribe working together and addressing such a critical need, Morson said, could make this a model for other communities.
It will provide a safe and stable place for all individuals in this communityIt wont be built tomorrow, itll take a couple of years but it will last forever in this community.
Leave a Reply