SHERIDAN — In light of COVID-19, many day cares and preschools are shutting their doors temporarily.

Kami Smith, executive director of Tongue River Child’s Place, said debating closure was the hardest decision she has had to make in her leadership role.

“We don’t want to put families out, but we need to keep our staff and families safe,” Smith said. TRCP serves about 40 children each week.

Smith said she has been looking to Sheridan County School District 1 the most to inform her decisions; TRCP facilities are owned by the district. Smith also consulted the Department of Family Services and Sheridan County Public Health.

For some families, closures may equate to chaos as they scramble to find child care. However, Smith said her immediate community is finding solutions. Some TRCP staff members are willing to watch a few kids in employees’ homes.

Smith said a few other community members and retired teachers have given Smith their contact information to pass on to families in need. Families with high-school-aged children are also offering their teenagers’ babysitting services.

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