Kelsey Merison
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — New childcare options are coming to the OSU-Cascades campus this fall, following the closure of Bend’s Little Kits Early Learning Center.
NeighborImpact plans to open three Head Start classrooms at OSU-Cascades on September 8th, serving up to 33 children through state- and federally subsidized Head Start programs.
The new classrooms will include two toddler classrooms for children ages 1 to 3 and one preschool classroom for children ages 3 to 5.
New Childcare After Little Kits Closure
The classrooms will occupy part of the space previously used by OSU-Cascades’ Little Kits program, which closed earlier this summer. The closure left families searching for new childcare options in a region already facing a shortage of available care.
In the spring, Oregon State University announced it would close its independent Little Kits program and lease the childcare space to local providers in an effort to expand childcare opportunities in Central Oregon.
NeighborImpact has signed the first lease. The organizations say they are also working to bring in another childcare provider to the building in the future.
“OSU-Cascades is committed to ensuring that the OSU childcare building serves its intended purpose of helping solve the childcare crisis in Central Oregon,” said Christine Pollard, interim chancellor and dean for OSU-Cascades.
Focus on Toddler Care
NeighborImpact says the new partnership will help address one of the region’s biggest childcare gaps: care for children under age 3.
“This new partnership is one piece of the larger puzzle, providing a partial solution to families’ need for safe, affordable childcare in the region,” said Scott Cooper, NeighborImpact’s executive director.
NeighborImpact’s Head Start program currently serves 601 children in Bend, Redmond, Prineville and La Pine. The program provides early education along with nutrition, health screenings and family support.
Head Start is free for participating families who qualify. Eligibility can depend on several factors, including income, housing and utility costs, disability, family circumstances and available enrollment flexibility.
NeighborImpact says some families who previously used Little Kits may be able to access the limited Head Start openings, including some who may not qualify based on income alone, depending on program rules.
Enrollment Underway
NeighborImpact is currently enrolling children and hiring staff ahead of the September 8th opening.
Families interested in Head Start can apply through NeighborImpact to determine whether they qualify for the program.
The organization says the new classrooms are part of a broader effort to increase access to safe, affordable childcare across Central Oregon.
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