KANAWHA COUNTY, WV (WOWK) – More than 600 childcare centers across the state are at risk of closure according to the West Virginia Women’s Alliance, who attributes this to a lack of funding and a lack of professionals working in childcare.

One center in the Kanawha County area, “Momma Bear’s” announced this week that it will close its doors on May 31 after struggling to stay afloat for months.

Ahead of a special session, investing more dollars into the childcare system is on the forefront of parents’ and educators’ minds.

“When I came here, I knew God brought me here for a specific reason. My husband died two years later with cancer, and this was a door that was opened, I feel to me by God for that specific reason,” Kinder said. “You need direction in your life in what you need to do, what my purpose is as far as being an advocate for children, for loving children and just being around them. They can make your worst day your best day.”

Kinder, also known as “Lisa Bear” and “Momma Bear” to her children and staff, said that her passion has become showing warmth to children that only a mother or grandmother can provide.

A decline in COVID-relief dollars from the American Rescue Plan and cuts to the West Virginia state budget are impacting childcare centers from county to county, just like “Momma Bear’s.” Kinder herself said it’s been a fight to stay open the last several months.

“I’m putting money in, and I cannot continue to do that,” Kinder said. “I’m willing to do that to a point just to be able to provide the care that we need for the children and for the families, but there comes a point where you cannot do all that yourself.”

The soon-approaching closure of “Momma Bear’s” not only impacts staff, but working parents.

“My first reaction was I was in complete shock because I had no idea that this was going to be happening, and I just felt like a ton of stress because it is so hard finding a good place to send your kids to,” single mom Jessica Priddy said. “Not just because of lack of staff but quality of staff, ones that are willing to work with your kids, get to know your kids and love your kids.”

Priddy said she’s unsure of what she will do moving forward, now that her two toddlers will not have a place to attend daycare.

Priddy said, “I’m not really sure at this point, which is super scary. My oldest is autistic, and I actually had a daycare tell me that they weren’t sure that their staff was equipped to handle an autistic child, so that’s not something you want to hear.”

These cuts are provoking advocates to call attention to lawmakers.

Mother’s Alliance is hosting house parties and events to advocate for mothers and women.

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

Breaking News

“Even if you’re not someone who has a child, childcare often does impact anyone and everyone, including people such as grandparents. A lot of times, grandparents have to watch the children during the day because the families can’t access childcare. West Virginia, I believe, has the largest number of grandparents who have custody of their grandchildren, so it also becomes a grandparents issue,” Tiffany Gale with the West Virginia Women’s Alliance said. “Everyone has skin in the game when it comes to childcare we all have to come together collectively to stabilize the childcare industry.”

Her organization is fighting to support working parents struggling to find accessible and affordable childcare, including childcare providers who will soon be left without a job.

Ahead of a special session, childcare advocates are looking to lawmakers to help and make a difference.

West Virginia House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay) told 13 News that he personally understands the difficulty of being a working parent and needing support, and he hopes to see change too.

“I’m one half of a two-parent working household with two young daughters, so I know well just how important childcare is, not only to West Virginia families but also to our economy. The current Presidential administration has been moving through the federal rulemaking process on a new regulation that applies to our situation and would dictate how we fund enrollment versus attendance. When that is finalized, it will allow us to finalize our calculations on just how much money we appropriate and where it goes,” Hanshaw said.

As for Kinder, she does not know what is next, though she wants to keep working with children.

“It’s just special when people ask you how many grandchildren you have, I’m like ‘probably about 101.’ So, everybody is very close, and I would do anything to keep the center going,” Kinder said. “It’s not about making a profit. It’s never about making a profit in this business. It’s for it to be able to pay for itself, and that’s all that it’s about. It no longer does that.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOWK 13 News.