Gorse Children’s Center courtesy of Tzav Harrel ‘24.
By Gillian Petrarca ’23
Staff Writer
After an extensive search, the Child Care Review Group has selected Valley Opportunity Council as the new provider for on-campus childcare. The Child Care Review Group was formed in April 2021 after the College announced that childcare provider Bright Horizons would end its contract with the Gorse Children’s Center on June 30, 2022. The group of community members is chaired by Shannon Gurek, vice president for finance and administration and treasurer, and Jennifer Jacoby, associate professor of psychology and education and director of first-year seminars.
Valley Opportunity Council is led by Executive Director Steve Huntley. According to their website, VOC, originally named the Community and Regional Opportunity Program, was founded in 1965. VOC offers over 30 community programs in a wide variety of areas, including food and nutrition, energy assistance, education and childcare, youth and adult programs and community outreach. Their mission statement outlines their dedication to eliminating poverty by providing the opportunity for low and moderate-income neighbors, families and friends in the Greater Hampden County area to achieve greater independence and a higher quality of life. VOC currently operates five child care centers in Holyoke and Chicopee for children ages 1-5 and three programs located within Holyoke Public Schools.
According to a Jan. 26 email update on the Child Care Review Group, Gurek and Jacoby listed the qualities the committee prioritized when choosing a provider. As they noted, “the Child Care Review Group prioritized the ability to work with Mount Holyoke to maintain and expand on their academics and child care program in accordance with the College’s mission and priorities. They also looked for a willingness and ability to accept subsidies and state vouchers, capacity to collaborate with the College’s academic programs and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in alignment with the College’s Anti-racism Plan of Action.”
“It is our hope that those currently caring for the children will continue with the new provider, which will give continuity and reduce uncertainty as much as possible for all those involved,” Gurek and Jacoby wrote. Mount Holyoke, Bright Horizons and VOC have developed a staff retention plan for the teachers and administrators currently working in the Center to keep their jobs under VOC.
As a conclusion to their message, Gurek and Jacoby offered their gratitude to those involved in the transition period. “We would like to give special thanks to the Childcare Request for Proposal Committee who worked tirelessly through the extensive proposal process, including meeting with vendors, touring facilities and finding our vibrant new partner in VOC.”