Southwestern Ontario's YMCA has been monitoring local teacher strikes closely.
Children's Education Services Regional Manager Heather Forbes said they're prepared to offer full-day child care where there is a need and where they're able to support it.
"For example, in Sarnia-Lambton region we established a full day camp-style program for children at our Jerry McCaw Family Centre on Finch Drive in Sarnia on January 21 and will continue to establish similar camps across our region when and where possible," said Forbes.
Emergency day camps are planned this Thursday, and next Tuesday and Thursday to accommodate students impacted by public elementary teacher strikes in Lambton Kent.
Forbes said they understand how frustrating the situation is for parents.
She is encouraging eligible families to register for the provincial government's program that has been developed to assist with child care costs.
The YMCA sent an email to parents and guardians on January 20 saying before and after school programs would be cancelled the following day if a strike proceeded in the Catholic Elementary System.
Children's Education Services VP Jo-elle Rinker said the Y would be compensating school-aged program staff and would continue to charge families for a maximum of two days. Rinker said if schools remained closed for more than two days, credits would be delivered to families in the following months.
