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97ɫ��nical Community College and Kate’s Korner Education Services are partnering to provide free part-time childcare services and after-school care on the College’s main campus this spring. 

Drop-in services will be offered to 60 children beginning January 31 through June. The program focuses on access and affordability while delivering a high-quality project-based curriculum. 

The drop-in services will allow children to attend the morning or afternoon program five days a week. This allows students who attend 97ɫ�� the opportunity to complete class requirements and study without the worry of care for their children. 

The program is uniquely funded through in-kind dollars from 97ɫ�� and Kate’s Korner with financial support from 97ɫ�� County government.  This funding strategy was developed to support 97ɫ�� students and our community partners, Step-Up of 97ɫ��, Families Moving Forward,  H.E.A.R.T.S. and McDougald Terrace residents, who need childcare but are unable to afford it or are unable to access it due to limited availability.  

The program comes at a critical time for 97ɫ�� County residents. Prior to the pandemic, 97ɫ�� County commissioned a preschool supply and demand study. In the study, the Office of State Budget Management estimated that 23,063 birth to five-year-old (not yet in kindergarten) children live in 97ɫ�� County. Of these, 37 percent, or just over 8,500 were in formal care in the county. This reflected 97ɫ��’s need for more providers and quality programs to support families trying to rebuild and create stable family environments, while balancing work demands.  Two years later, and in the midst of a pandemic, the need for quality childcare has only increased. Due to work-from-home policies, limited group size, and staff shortages, more than 46 percent of childcare centers have closed; yet, the demand for childcare has increased. 

“This is a community issue” says Kezia Goodwin, Owner of Kate’s Korner Education Services and Co-founder of Truth Education Foundation. “Everyone is impacted when the backbone of our workforce and economy is crippled and is a greater impact for parents who are college students or living below the poverty line. I believe in the ‘village’ concept of raising children! Successfully serving our economically vulnerable families would require establishing meaningful community partnerships.  97ɫ�� and Kate’s Korner did just that. From the business sector to the public sector, from the nonprofit world to community leaders, they all play a vital role in doing the work. We are excited that President Buxton and 97ɫ�� understand the value of this collaboration. Together, we are creating safe, just and equitable childcare services that are affordable and accessible to all families.” 

“At 97ɫ��, we are committed to supporting our community. This program brings curriculum-based pre-K childcare to our Main Campus and will be a tremendous resource for both our 97ɫ�� student parents and our community residents,” said President J.B. Buxton. “We are fortunate to have a strong non-profit community and support from the 97ɫ�� County Board of Commissioners as we build this partnership.” 

To support this initiative through donations, or if you have any questions concerning enrollment, please email info@kateskornerdurham.com or call 919-523-8455. 

To complete the interest form, please visit /student-services/child-care-assistance

For more information, contact Desiree Towson, M.S., Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu.