MIDLAND, Texas — The need for more childcare in the Permian Basin is a constant conversation.
Midland YMCA is opening its new northwest location in the Fall of 2025.
The location will initially help meet the demand for after-school childcare.
As more young families continue to grow up in Midland, the need for after-school childcare is reaching new heights in the Tall City.
“With Midland’s largest demographic being that zero to four years old, they’re starting to age out and they’re needing something when they get out of elementary school," said Amy Evans, senior director of operations at Midland YMCA. "This year, for the first time in our program history, we started the first day of school with a waitlist."
Suzann Haechten is a parent who was able to get her child into YMCA programming at four months old.
Haechten did that about six years ago after being on three different waitlists while pregnant.
“The number of children that don’t even have the opportunity – there's not even a spot available for them in childcare or after-school care," Haechten said. "So, it’s an ongoing crisis for families.”
With that being the case, Midland YMCA’s expansion into northwest Midland is well underway.
The new location will open 200 spots for families.
“We’ve got over 90 kids on our after-school program waitlist right now, and that means those 90 kids have parents who are struggling and scrambling to find something for their kids to do either when the bell rings or other out of school times," Evans said.
Evans said this is an initial step toward helping that need.
The "Y" is also asking for city council approval on Tuesday for a childcare specific use designation that would eliminate time constraints.
“Working parents are always trying to balance that work-life struggle...and so, if they are restricted in how many hours of childcare their child can attend each week, they’re forced to reevaluate those things," Evans said. "This just allows us more program flexibility and really allows us to cater to those working families that we’re trying to serve with this."
Working families that impact the success of Midland.
“Those working families support economic development and growth and workforce expansion throughout Midland," Evans said. "So when the northwest YMCA is able to provide care for 200 kids on that side of town, that just opens up those 100 spots down here."