Washington Y suspends Child Watch

The YMCA in Washington has suspended its child watch program, which previously provided child care for parents while they worked out with no charge or registration requirements.

“We just had staffing issues and I don’t have the staff to do it anymore,” said Tamera Alexander, school-age program director at the Y. “We had it in the morning, but it wasn’t really being utilized … there’s more classes and programs in the evening.”

The building does still have its before and after school program, but Alexander said that was distinct.

“Child Watch was a program for people who came into workout classes or doing a sport or working out at the Y in general, they could drop their kids off with us,” she said. “The only speculation was they had to be in the building … these kids (at before and after school) are registered, they sign up every year and they pay a fee to come to us.”

While she hopes to resume Child Watch at the Washington branch, Alexander said timing was uncertain.

“It’s kind of unclear at this point,” she said. “We’re working out a few kinks of if my staff can do it or the front desk staff or someone else in the building. It also depends on summer time, when we’ll have a lot more staff working a lot more hours.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com