PITTSBURG, Kan. — On Monday, the Family Resource Center (FRC) hosted an information session for candidates for City Commission and USD 250 School Board. Organizers said they did so not just to share information about the center, but also the current status of childcare in Pittsburg and the surrounding area.

“We felt it was important to share with the candidates what is the current status of childcare in Pittsburg, what are the efforts to support the industry going on at the State level, and finally, share how the center is seen across the state as a model for community collaboration in providing early childhood education that includes pre-k and childcare services,” said Ann Elliott, executive director.

Currently the Family Resource Center is serving 432 children, which includes drop-in care and school-aged children. Still, she said, the FRC and other providers, are able to meet just 51 percent of the potential demand for childcare in Crawford County. She said providing quality slots that are available, affordable and accessible for the community is an economic issue here and across the state.

Elliott said she, Murnan and Dawn McNay, president of the FRC’s Board of Directors, gave the candidates a lot of information, but one message was central to it all.

“Solving the childcare availability issue is going to take everyone at the table, school districts, governmental agencies and the business community,” she said. “So, as elected officials, it is important to understand what their role can be, what is working, what are opportunities there are to expand childcare and sustain quality childcare in our community.”