For Elizabeth Eastman of Jaffrey, an affordable child care option, run by a program she trusts, was a life-saver.
Eastman has two children, and she jumped to pre-register both of them in the upcoming Youth Empowerment Program after-school care run by the Jaffrey Recreation Department at Jaffrey Grade School. However, those registrations haven’t kept up with the anticipated demand, or the numbers to keep the program viable, said Town Manager Jon Frederick. At the end of the month, he said the town will have to make a decision whether the program moves forward at all, unless they see more signups in the next week.
Currently, 20 children have registered for the program, which was designed with a capacity of 50 and needs at least 30 to be viable, said Frederick.
“We did research and have done a survey that gave information that there were more than 50 children interested in this,” said Frederick, referring to a survey given last year to Jaffrey Grade School parents. A total of 41 families responded, with over half indicating they would be “very likely” and another 27% saying they were “likely” to use the program for their children.
The program launched mid-semester last year, providing after-school care for $50 per week, but only a handful of children enrolled. Believing the mid-year timing resulted in most families already having a plan for after school, the program was suspended shortly thereafter, with plans to relaunch at the start of the 2025-2026 school year. The town is taking pre-registrations for that program, but while interest is higher than last year, it is still below expectations, said Frederick.
“In order for this to work, we need to be secure in the knowledge of the people we’re gong to have,” said Frederick. “We want people to use it — we know this is a valuable service. We see the need.”
Eastman said she’s one of those parents that has a need for the program. Currently, she said her children attend after-school clubs during the school year, but it’s an imperfect system.
“I’ve been at risk of losing my job because of lack of child care,” Eastman said. “Having to go pick them up, or sometimes having to bring them into my office. I’m a sole provider, and it’s really just on me to provide for them, and having a lack of child care is an issue. I’ve attempted multiple times to find child care for before and after school, and I just can’t find it.”
Eastman said she has grappled with long waiting lists, high prices, lack of flexibility and finding care with a solid reputation. The Jaffrey program checked her boxes, she said.
The relaunch of the program has dropped the price, from $50 to $35 per week. Parents commit their children on a week-to-week basis, rather than monthly or yearly. Jaffrey Grade School students stay in the school building after the school day to attend the program, so there is no transportation requirements or cost.
Kayla Jackson of Jaffrey has two children, and has registered her daughter to attend the program. She said she moved to Jaffrey in 2018, the same year she had her daughter, and finding child care in the area has always been an issue, particularly finding one that didn’t have a price out of her budget.
“Both of us work,” Jackson said of herself and her husband. “We don’t have the privilege of a parent being able to stay home, like a lot of parents.”
Jackson signed her daughter up for the previous iteration of the program, though she said she was disappointed by the lack of membership back then. She said if the program fails to launch, she’ll go back to her current arrangement of having her daughter with a family friend after school, but she doesn’t have any backup plans for the times when that friend is unavailable.
Frederick said registrations are open for the program through July 28, and at that point, the town will make its determination on whether there are enough children to move forward.
“It’s a program that’s needed and people said they wanted,” said Recreation Director Samantha Bontempo.
Families can register at jaffrey.recdesk.com, or by calling the Jaffrey Recreation Department at 603-532-7862.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.