Site last updated: Wednesday, October 15, 2025

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Financial help available for parents seeking day care and early learning, but slots at a premium

Nalani Walters, 2, plays with toys at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
TRACKING OUR PROGRESS
Wait lists remain lengthy, parents seek alternatives

Summary: Once parents get through the wait lists, local childcare providers say help is available for the financial end of day care.

Don't miss out on "Tracking our Progress" — a series that covers how officials are framing the county for success with infrastructure projects and expansion of judicial and emergency services. Also, see how others like school districts are facing the challenges as nonprofits such as those that feed neighbors in need.

The stories in this series will be released regularly over the next month for digital Butler Eagle subscribers and in a special print edition on Oct. 22. Subscribe now or log in below to start reading.

As soon as you know you’re expecting, get on the wait list.

That’s the advice Kelly Tennent, senior director of early childhood education at Butler YMCA Child Care, offers to expecting parents.

“Generally, there is a wait list for infants,” she said.

At the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic, child care was hard to come by, but years later, finding day care and early education opportunities for working parents remains a significant challenge.

Those like Tennent say agencies in Butler County, such as the YMCA, work to ensure babies, toddlers and preschoolers receive care that isn’t cost prohibitive for parents.

Dane Hallam, 1, peaks through a pipe at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

Both Butler YMCA Child Care and Early Learning Connections in Franklin Township receive funding to help parents pay for care and early learning at their facilities.

Funding from both state and federal sources provides Early Learning Resource Center income-based assistance for families who need help with day care, said Kelly Tennent, senior director of early childhood education at Butler YMCA Child Care.

“(The cost) for infants right now is $247 per week,” Tennent said. “If you have two or three kids, that's a lot for families.”

She said 50% to 75% of families at the facility receive help with costs for care, which is available for all age levels through ELRC funding.

Tennent said 212 children are now enrolled at the Butler YMCA and His Kids Christian School in Jefferson Township, from infants to those requiring before- or after-school care. That number increases in the summer, when camps are in session, she said.

Although slots fill up fast, Tennent said her staff does their best to accommodate parents seeking care. The Y cares for no more than 12 infants, aged newborn to 1 year, which places those slots at a premium.

The preschool program accepts a maximum of 60 children and the toddler program accepts up to 52.

If no slot is available, parents receive an email with a link to register for the wait list.

“As soon as we have a spot, we call them up and let them know,” Tennent said.

She said parents appreciate the curriculum used at the Y, as well as the highly educated staff.

“We now have two teachers with master’s degrees in education,” Tennent said. “We're not just babysitting here.”

Elisa Spadafora, CEO at Early Learning Connections, said her organization administers the Head Start program in Butler, Armstrong and Indiana counties, offering center- and home-based options to parents.

She said ELRC dollars support the entity's licensed child care centers. Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded, she said.

Early Learning Connections offer parents a vital opportunity for youngsters to receive quality early education services at a manageable cost.

“Some of it is free, based on eligibility, and some is subsidized through ELRC,” Spadafora said.

Elliette Hoffman, 2, slides down the slide at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

She said 358 Butler County children are served by Early Learning Connections in about 21 classrooms across nine locations.

Parents experiencing an outstanding need for enrollment have access to a family services worker, who can guide them toward help with housing, furniture and transportation as well.

“Those needs are also supported by our programs,” Spadafora said.

In addition to age-appropriate curriculum, skill-building and other lessons, Head Start clients receive breakfast, lunch and a snack each day.

Spadafora said her organization works closely with school districts and area intermediate units in preparing students for school.

“Educational service and school readiness is the emphasis,” Spadafora said.

The organization's original site, the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler Township, is one of Early Learning Connections' largest locations, but much thought is put into where centers will be placed.

“We try to concentrate on providing care in the most convenient locations,” Spadafora said.

She said Butler city is an area of great need, so centers on North and South Chestnut streets were combined into one facility on Center Avenue.

Parents also can opt for home-based early education, where an Early Learning Connections home visitor will help parents with appropriate play and teaching their children the skills they will need when they enter school.

“We work with the family or parent doing much of what we would be doing in the center, giving the parents skills and education,” Spadafora said.

She said parents appreciate and seek out the services of Early Learning Connections for a variety of reasons, including offering a quality educational program and excellent environment for its young clients.

“It's a longstanding organization,” Spadafora said. “We want to do the best we can for all of the children and families we are serving.”

Stacie Williams shows Harvey Cypher, 2, a leaf underneath a magnifying glass at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Anthony-Amari Hillman, 4, plays with toy ketchup and mustard bottles at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Lisa Bauer helps children play with toys in her classroom at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Anthony-Amari Hillman, 4, plays with toys at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Jasmine Hawk, 4, performs repairs on foam blocks at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Children play with toys at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Nalani Walters, 2, plays with toys at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Bon Aire program center director Heather Queen looks for birds with Harvey Cypher, 2, at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Heather Queen and Dane Hallam, 1, wait for Benson Bowers, 2, to come down the slide at the Bon Aire Early Learning Center in Butler, Oct. 9, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle

More in Progress

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS