JACKSON, Wyo. — One22 Resource Center has announced a child care assistance pilot program through May 31, 2021.

While childcare is vital to many families’ well-being and income, it typically comes with high costs when most take-home pay is already going to rent and mortgage payments. Therefore, One22 hopes this program allows parents from low to moderate-income households to stay at work.

“Child care is necessary for working parents and children in our community, and we recognize the need to provide support during this time,” says One22 Resource Center Executive Director Sharel Lund. “This pilot program will assist families who have experienced an unexpected loss of income or increase in childcare-related expenses. We are grateful to the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and numerous donors who enable us to offer this pilot program to families who work in Teton County; it is an important time to provide support.”

“Moving into summer, many parents’ minds turn toward summer camps and programs this time of the year,” One22 said in a press release. “These are essential for working parents and allow children to learn, create, explore and connect to others.”

Since 2010, the program has provided scholarships to local families to support summer camps and children’s programming needs. One22 said that these programs are essential to working families’ support systems and children’s well-being.

In order to make programs more accessible to a wider range of ages and needs this year, One22 adjusted the parameters to provide additional support to families in the lowest income ranges and expanded to include middle school grades and a week of camp for high school students. Details and applications may be found at one22jh.org/scholarship-programs.

Students enrolled in summer day camps will receive a healthy packed lunch through One22’s partnership with Hole Food Rescue’s Sprout Summer Lunch program.

“Children need connections and safe spaces to explore, create and socialize. Summer camps and programs provide those spaces while supporting parents who work,” says The Community Foundation of Jackson Hole President Laurie Andrews. “We are excited to see this summer that children from kindergarten through high school are eligible, and we hope this financial assistance provides opportunities for the whole family.”

Child Care Assistance information and applications may be found at one22jh.org/financial-assistance.

She's a lover of alliteration, easy-to-follow recipes and board games when everyone knows the rules. Her favorite aspect about living in the Tetons is the collective admiration that Wyomingites share for the land and the life that it sustains.