Childcare center needs more children
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| Children’s activities at the CDC during the Taste of Annandale. |
The ACCA Child Development Center (CDC), in the center of
Annandale, has gone from having 100 children on a waiting list last year to an excess of
spaces now.
There are about 40 spots available for children age 2 to 5.
The CDC organized and hosted the children’s program at the Tasteof Annandale Oct. 13, and CDC staff led tours of the facility during that event.
The program is open to all children who live in Fairfax
County and have a legal status, although the county subsidizes the tuition for children from lower-income families. About 80 percent of the children at the CDC receive a subsidy.
County and have a legal status, although the county subsidizes the tuition for children from lower-income families. About 80 percent of the children at the CDC receive a subsidy.
The CDC is in the former Annandale
Elementary School building at 7200 Columbia Pike. The year-round childcare program is
overseen by Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA), a coalition of 26
churches.
Elementary School building at 7200 Columbia Pike. The year-round childcare program is
overseen by Annandale Christian Community for Action (ACCA), a coalition of 26
churches.
The CDC used to share part of the building with the Annandale
Adult Day Care Center. Fairfax County closed that center in 2015, and the space
was subsequently transferred to the CDC, which is using it for an additional classroom.
Adult Day Care Center. Fairfax County closed that center in 2015, and the space
was subsequently transferred to the CDC, which is using it for an additional classroom.
The expanded capacity is not the only reason for the need
for more children, however.
for more children, however.
“In the Latino community, people are scared to apply for
assistance because of the political climate,” says CDC intake specialist Gabby Chavez. “They think if they apply for assistance and later apply for citizenship, they
will be denied.”
assistance because of the political climate,” says CDC intake specialist Gabby Chavez. “They think if they apply for assistance and later apply for citizenship, they
will be denied.”
Also, the county recently changed its rules and now requires applicants
to submit more thorough financial information and are doing more checking up
on what parents are reporting. That has led to more rejections for subsidies.
to submit more thorough financial information and are doing more checking up
on what parents are reporting. That has led to more rejections for subsidies.
In some cases, parents’ employers pay them in cash, which
means they can’t provide documentation of their household income, Chavez says. In other
cases, when parents are separated and the mother can’t afford to move away, the
county incorrectly assumes the father is contributing to the household income.
means they can’t provide documentation of their household income, Chavez says. In other
cases, when parents are separated and the mother can’t afford to move away, the
county incorrectly assumes the father is contributing to the household income.
