Affected by Apple Tree closure? Here are resources for you
Dec. 15, 2023
Hundreds of families are scrambling for new child care providers after learning long-time business Apple Tree Children Centers is closing in less than a month.
At the Helpline Center, vice president of program development Betsy Schuster compared it to a disaster response.
“This is a disaster in child care,” she said. “It has that big of a ripple effect across out community and across sectors. How do we get children to school, take care of children and get employees to work?”
Helpline, which can be reached by calling 211, is a centralized resource positioned to help connect families with child care options.
It keeps a database of about 400 child care providers statewide. To be part of it, a center must be registered with the state of South Dakota. In-home providers serving those younger than 12 must be registered with the city of Sioux Falls Health Department.
“We sent out an immediate email asking for an immediate update because of the Apple Tree closure,” Schuster said.
At least 50 providers already have responded. Helpline is collecting information on the available spots, as well as if they don’t have availability and aren’t able to be contacted. Parents then can make one call, provide information about their situation and be connected with options from Helpline generally within 24 hours.
“We educate parents they need to do the due diligence on what works best. We don’t make recommendations. We provide referrals that would meet their needs,” Schuster said.
Providers can update their information here.
Parents also can fill out an online form to be connected instead of calling 211. Do that here.
In addition to simply finding care, Apple Tree’s closure presents the additional challenge of finding transportation for many kids to and from school, Schuster said.
“Many in-home providers aren’t able to provide that because they have kids at home,” she said. “That’s the need coming in to 211 … parents needing that before- and after-school transportation, and that’s very limited in the community.”
According to Apple Tree’s website, about 800 kids were served by its four centers. They’re scheduled to be open through Jan. 11 but might be forced to close sooner if staff aren’t there to maintain required ratios.
In a statement, Mayor Paul TenHaken said:
“We understand many families are affected by the closures of multiple Apple Tree Children’s Centers and that this will create a difficult and stressful time for many in our community. The 211 Helpline Center is serving families affected by these closures to provide options for caring and reliable childcare. As families consider their next childcare solution, we encourage them to use online resources available from the City of Sioux Falls and South Dakota Department of Social Services to ensure the childcare location is properly licensed and registered. Sioux Falls is not alone in this ongoing challenge, and viable solutions will continue to rely on innovation and collaboration.”
Some of the city’s larger child care providers have stepped forward with spots available.
At EmBe, there were 62 openings in child care from infants up to age 5 as of Friday morning and up to 20 additional teachers and staff. The organization also can support an additional 90 school-age care students, kindergarten through sixth grade. Call 605-336-3660 to learn more about openings for students and staff.
“EmBe has been engaged in meaningful discourse to navigate this challenging situation with a focus on the well-being of children, families, and staff,” CEO Kerri Tietgen said in a statement. “The aim is to find solutions that consider capacity, funding and community needs, supporting families and staff through these transitions.”
EmBe also is fundraising for a scholarship fund to help families in need. Click here to donate.
“EmBe is open to and has been in conversations on ways to provide both temporary and long-term solutions and exploring the financial viability of those options,” Tietgen said. “This is why there is a need for additional financial support to develop a solution. Expansion requires provider expertise, as well as the funds to support operational costs.”
Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire CEO Stacy Jones said right after the closure was announced that her organization also has capacity to take on more kids and more staff.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire will do whatever we can to support Apple Tree families and staff members, and encourage them to reach out to us,” she said. “We are saddened for Apple Tree’s owner, their staff and the Apple Tree families. And we are frustrated that the childcare crisis continues to deepen. It is time the community recognizes this crisis and starts taking action.”
The bottom line, at least in the short-term though, is that “there aren’t enough spots to absorb this,” Helpline’s Schuster said. “There’s not enough spots from an infant care perspective and in before- and after-school transportation to absorb this.”
Many centers will be able to open up more spots once they can hire staff, but that will take at least a little time.
Helpline is keeping parents’ information on hand to text updates as they before available.
This story will be updated as information changes.
