YMCA Just Made Placements Easier for Foster Care

October 19, 2022

Stuart -

Communities Connected for Kids is proud to announce a new partnership with the Treasure Coast YMCA.

The organization has agreed to put foster families at the top of its waiting list for daycare spots, significantly reducing one of CCKids' greatest barriers to placing children into foster homes.

"One of the biggest challenges we have is finding spots for children," said Denise Natalizio, CCKids' Martin County Director. "The fact that we have a provider who will put children at the top of the waiting list is incredibly valuable."

Natalizio said that daycare - or delayed access to it - has been a barrier to placement. Foster parents who work and who would otherwise take in a young child may decline placement requests because of the difficulty in finding daycare.

The YMCA also has agreed to take children in foster care at a rate equal to those reimbursed by the Early Learning Coalition, which supplements childcare expenses for low-income families, as well as foster families.

In the past, any difference between ELC's reimbursement rate and tuition was incurred by the family. Those out-of-pocket costs were significantly reduced for all CCKids caregivers beginning July 1 of this year, after Senate Bill 7034 was signed into law implementing childcare subsidies for eligible families.

Caregivers who need childcare can email rgriggs@ymcatreasurecoast.org or call (772) 204-3969 for more information..