Childcare providers key to disaster recovery
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Jeneal Hensley, a family child care provider in Swannanoa, North Carolina, lost her home and business when Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding.
Before the storm, she cared for five children, but only one returned after the extensive damage and 500+ days of rebuilding. The experience highlighted how crucial home-based childcare is for communities, especially during disasters when centers may close and parents face job loss or displacement.
Local organizations like the Buncombe County Partnership for Children and the Family Child Care Center and Enrichment Foundation (FCCEF) stepped in to support providers and families, providing financial aid, resources, and emotional support. These groups recognized that established relationships with grassroots organizations are essential for immediate disaster response and long-term recovery.
The Dogwood Health Trust and Home Grown created a playbook for other communities facing similar challenges, emphasizing the need to include home-based providers, who often care for infants, toddlers, and shift workers, in disaster preparedness plans. Following Hurricane Helene, organizations are working to improve support for childcare providers, including establishing guidance for emergency response and advocating for increased investment in the sector.
Home Grown created an Emergency Fund that distributed grants of $800 to $1500 to 89 caregivers in the region, offering quick, flexible financial assistance. Advocates argue that childcare should be viewed as essential infrastructure, not just a problem to address, and that investing in home-based care is vital for community resilience.
