New child care program at Shelton State

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) -The state of Alabama is currently facing a child care shortage problem. Industry leaders say there aren’t enough child care centers for children in need but that may soon change.

Shelton State Community College has established a partnership with West Alabama Works to start a course aimed at recruiting people to open daycare programs in their homes.

The course will last five weeks, during which time, potential recruits will learn the process of getting licensed by the state. Officials say this is a real need in west Alabama, mainly because of the negative effects COVID-19 had on child daycare centers. Officials say the potential income could be up to $70,000 per year.

“To actually develop a way of training more individuals to be successful in opening up in-home daycares which is a huge issue in workforce development in getting more individuals back into the workforce, we have to have more childcares,” says Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and West Alabama Works Executive Director Donny Jones.

“The people who want to do this have got to have a love for children. It has to be something where you’re invested in the outcome that they’re going to roll into school ready, already knowing that they have an extended network of people who love and care for them,” says Shelton State Community College Director of Child Development Holly Glasgow.

Anyone who is interested should attend the free, no obligation orientation on Feb. 20 starting at 6 p.m. at the Synergic Center in Northport. The center is located 3500 5th Street in Northport. The five-week course begins Feb. 27 through March 29.

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