Parents Struggle with Childcare Crisis After Local Center Closes

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. — Parents are facing long waitlists after Roseburg Professional Childcare announced it will close its Walnut Street location on May 28. The closure results from the inability to renew the building lease, leaving families scrambling for alternative childcare options.

The announcement was made on May 19, giving parents less than two weeks to find new facilities. Jessica Atherton, a parent with a 1-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son, expressed her disappointment. She said, ‘I was really disappointed of course to know that we’re kind of at it again, if you will, with trying to find childcare for a child who isn’t yet potty trained.’

Atherton mentioned that her daughter has been on a standby list at another facility for eight months and learned just yesterday that she is still at least a year and a half away from a spot. ‘It does make me very anxious,’ she said.

Cobb Children’s Learning Center, another local facility, currently has a waitlist of approximately three years for children aged 2 and under. Karissa Bent, the Executive Director, noted that there are about 30-60 kids on the waitlist for each age group. In just the past 24 hours, about 15 families have attempted to join the waitlist.

Bent explained that the closure of Roseburg Professional Childcare reflects broader challenges faced by childcare centers, including cost concerns and issues with building permits. ‘I see the many shortfalls that childcare has so it is difficult to run one, open one, and keep it sustainable,’ she said.

Cobb currently has 87 kids enrolled, approaching its capacity of 100. Despite the lengthy waitlists, Bent hopes for future expansion to meet community needs. ‘We need city, county, and community support to get buildings up and running,’ she stated.

Heather Freilinger, a Program Coordinator for the Douglas ESD, highlighted the lack of available slots in Douglas County, mentioning that there are approximately 75 open positions across various facilities. She advises parents to stay diligent in their search and consider in-home care options as alternatives.

For a more comprehensive list of licensed childcare centers and homes with openings, parents are encouraged to call 211. Efforts are also underway from the Douglas County Childcare Coalition to improve access to childcare in the community.

The Roseburg Professional Childcare Center has not returned inquiries regarding the reasons for its closure.