DRIVE FOR REPLACEMENT EASTER SEALS CENTER CONTINUES

Efforts are under way to pull together the large number of people, groups and organizations who want to recreate the program at the Easter Seals Child Development Center, which is set to close March 10.

Easter Seals Missouri announced last week that it was closing the center. Since then parents and staff have lead an effort to carry on the inclusive child-care program that serves children with and without disabilities without Easter Seal affiliation.

"More and more people, groups and organizations are expressing an interest in recreating the program," said Nancy Jernigan, executive director of United Way. "It's just amazing."

The United Way had funded an Easter Seals program for children with disabilities at the center, and Jernigan said many contributors to United Way had designated Easter Seals as the recipient for their donations.

So she has been working at assessing the needs of the special-needs children the program aided to see how those donations can continue to flow to services for such children.

If a new center can be established, United Way will consider allocating it funding, Jernigan said..

Jernigan said she and Cheryl Beahan, director of the Easter Seals Child Development Center, will meet early next week to talk about what will be needed to start such a center and how it can be done. Then a meeting of an ad hoc committee consisting of individuals and organizations that have expressed interest in helping will be set to get people involved in the project.

That meeting likely will be held after the center closes March 10, making it unlikely a new center will be operating soon enough for children enrolled at Easter Seals to make a smooth transition to the new center.

Beahan said some parents have found day-care arrangements with other child-care providers. Others are working with Child Development Center staff, who may offer child care in their own homes or the homes of parents in the interim.

Beahan said another option she is looking at is finding a church that will allow the center to hold classes there until a permanent center site can be found. A church location would allow bypassing of getting a state license, a process that can take a month or longer, Beahan said.

Jernigan said she knows parents are anxious about getting a new center established.

"But we are trying to pull together many organizations and services, and that takes more time. But you end up with a much better program," Jernigan said.