It hasn’t been
that long since Allie DeHass kickstarted the idea of introducing a YMCA to
Holmes County, but through her work and the assistance of many others, YMCA
kicked off its introduction to Holmes County with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and
tour for parents interested in enrolling in the program.
The YMCA of Wayne County will
offer child care options to Holmes County with the opening of the Holmes County
Y Learning Academy May 11. The academy is located at NewPointe Church’s
Millersburg campus and will serve families with children age 6 weeks to 6
years.
AD
The program will operate from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, offering full-day care designed to
support working families while providing a safe, structured and engaging
environment for young learners.
Holmes County Y Learning Academy kicked off its day care program with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at NewPointe Church May 6, and parents were invited to explore the church's new day care facility provided by the YMCA.Dave Mast
“It’s been hard
because I wish it had come quicker, but at the same time, it has gone quickly,”
DeHass said. “It is inspiring to see how well we can come together and show up
for the community when there is a great need.”
With a family of
her own, DeHass understood the lack of available child care opportunities in
Holmes County and began exploring options two years ago. The involvement of the
YMCA helped gather the needed steam to push the idea forward, and on Wednesday,
May 6 at NewPointe Church, parents were invited to explore the new facility.
DeHass, who will
serve as director of the academy, was excited to see this need being answered and said seeing the way people came together was encouraging.
“I want to provide
a service to those families who are desperate for child care,” DeHass said.
While DeHass
explored many options as far as facilities, connecting with NewPointe was a
blessing because the church provides everything necessary for each age level
and the curriculum.
AD
The academy is a
curriculum-based program that uses the Creative Curriculum, a research-backed
approach that focuses on early childhood development through hands-on learning
and exploration. Children will take part in activities that support social,
emotional, cognitive and physical growth, helping prepare them for school and
beyond.
Teacher Jazmyne
Shoup, lead morning teacher, said she is eager to see this new preschool
day care program getting started.
The Y academy is a curriculum-based program that uses the Creative Curriculum, a research-backed approach that focuses on early childhood development through hands-on learning and exploration.File
“It’s been a lot
of hard work, but it’s exciting that we can provide valuable child care services
to a community that needs it,” Shoup said.
Nikki Fehrenbach,
CEO of YMCA of Wayne County, said this type of operation is invaluable because
there are many families in which both parents need to work, and providing an
affordable option for day care allows them to thrive.
As the largest
provider in Wayne County, when Fehrenbach found out there was no provider in
Holmes County, it quickly became apparent the opportunity to fill a need
was right up their alley.
“Parents are
grateful, but I also think employers are grateful because without these
services it is going to hurt their workforce, so we are a solution for them
also,” Fehrenbach said. “As for single parents or families where both need to
work, this allows them to pay their rent and keep food on their table. We’ve
heard so many thankful people in Wayne County, and it’s an honor to be able to
offer a trained staff and a licensed program in Holmes County.”
Families will have flexible
payment options as the academy accepts Ohio Department of Job & Family Services funding and the voucher
program, making child care more accessible to the community.
All staff members are trained
professionals who follow state licensing requirements and Step Up to Quality
guidelines. This ensures children receive care in a setting that meets
strong standards for safety, learning and development.
NewPointe Church's classrooms have been somewhat dormant during the week, but with the introduction of the new learning center and day care program, it will be filled with laughter, learning and love.Dave Mast
The YMCA expressed its gratitude
to several local organizations including the United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties, the Holmes
County Foundation, and the Millersburg Eagles for their financial support, as
well as NewPointe Community Church for their partnership in hosting the
academy.
“Those organizations were
incredible,” DeHass said. “The (HCF) really supported us and provided guidance
throughout the process. It’s nice to have the community step up and support us so
much.”
For many families, the Holmes
County Y Learning Academy will be an answer to prayer, fulfilling a
long-awaited need for child care.
“We’re proud of what we do and
honored to be part of the solution,” Fehrenbach said. “Families deserve a place
where their children are safe, supported and learning every day.”
Families interested in enrolling
their child or learning more about the program are encouraged to reach out via
email at Allied@ymcawayne.org
or call her at 330-933-7501. Once the Holmes YMCA is open, families can stop in
and complete paperwork to take advantage of this opportunity.
