Funding cut for KAC, but services will still be offered

By Angie Thompson, Senior Reporter

TIFTON — The Kids’ Advocacy Coalition (KAC) office has down-sized and moved after funding for one of its programs was cut, but those who work there say they will continue to provide services to students, childcare providers, teachers and others in the community.

The KAC office is now located at 118 E. Third St. in downtown Tifton.

KAC is a non-profit agency that oversees after-school programs for students who attend eight Tift County public schools. The local Child Care Resource and Referral center, formerly one of 14 in the state, had been under the KAC umbrella of services until the state consolidated. Now, there are six CCRR offices in the state.

“Five offices closed and our area went from 10 to 52 counties,” said KAC Executive Director Julie Gibbs. “They chose Albany to house the office for our area.”

Gibbs and Renee Camarillo, the agency’s chief financial officer, now staff the office after three former staff members found other employment and one former staff member was hired by the Albany office.

CCRR services include referrals and education to assist parents in their search for quality child care, parent education classes, newsletters and a lending library. CCRR services also include training and technical assistance for early childhood educators and child care providers.

“We will continue to offer the Child Care Resource and Referral resource room and have books that can be checked out,” Gibbs said.

KAC is a United Way agency. Carol Johnson, executive director of the United Way, said that the KAC staff are to be commended for continuing to offer CCRR services in Tifton.

“I cannot say enough praise about their office and what wonderful work they have done for our area,” Johnson said. “Of course we all realize that the state is having to cut many areas, but this will really impact our day care providers who cannot go to Albany every time they need something.”

Gibbs said parents who need after-school daycare when the school term begins should be thinking about completing those arrangements.

The KAC After School Program is held at Annie Belle Clark, G.O. Bailey, J.T. Reddick, Len Lastinger, Northside, Omega and the Tift County Pre-K Center. Students from Matt Wilson and Charles Spencer schools are transported to J.T. Reddick. The program begins as soon as students are dismissed from school and goes until 6 p.m. on all full school days. KAC is unable to offer after school care on early release days.

The service cost $30 per week for students who are picked up by 4:45 p.m. and $40 for students who remain after that time. KAC offers a 20 percent discount for each additional child in the same family. A $40 registration fee per child is required. Any family for whom these fees present a hardship are encouraged to apply to the Department of Family and Children Services on Second Street for child care subsidies. Any parent who believes they qualify for fee support and are determined ineligible for DFCS subsidies is urged to contact the KAC office or the child’s lead teacher for reduced rate applications.

Student who attend KAC are given an opportunity to complete homework and homework assistance is given when it is requested. Outdoor activities, games, toys, arts and crafts, reading, selected videos, drama and visiting with friends are activities offered at KAC locations.

The KAC office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and can provide more information about the program and after school care. Gibbs or Camarillo can be reached at 229-382-9919. More information is available online at www.kac-ccrr.org.

To contact senior reporter Angie Thompson, call 382-4321.

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