Giving Compass' Take:

• Philadelphia's Office of Children and Families are running community centers that offer childcare and internet access for children and families that need those services during the pandemic. 

• How will these centers offer relief to working parents during COVID-19? How can donors support or expand programs like these that are helping families? 

• Read why working parents are important for COVID-19 recovery.

Philadelphia officials announced Thursday that the city would open 31 recreation centers on Sept. 8 where students can be supervised during the virtual school day and receive help accessing the internet.

The 31 sites, run by the city’s Office of Children and Families, can accommodate about 800 students. Deputy Mayor Cynthia Figueroa said that this is just a “first phase,” and that officials will open more sites on a “rolling basis” depending on demand. The new locations may include public libraries and Philadelphia Housing Authority community centers.

The centers, each of which will accommodate about 22 children, are for students entering kindergarten up to sixth grade whose caregivers work outside the home and cannot afford child care, and/or have no reliable internet service at home.

These are “for those who have absolutely no other options available,” said Figueroa. She noted that the state is continuing its subsidized child care programs and said families who currently participate should “not pull their child from that arrangement.”

Figueroa said that families can apply starting Monday, Aug. 24, and as the enrollment process proceeds officials will consider where to open new sites, with a target date for “phase two” of Sept. 21.

The centers will be staffed by parks and recreation and library employees, as well as personnel from the city’s “out of school time” office that runs after-school, summer, and weekend programming. Some may also come from private community partner organizations. All will be trained and have appropriate child abuse clearances as well as refreshers around being “mandated reporters” for child abuse, Figueroa said.

She added: “These are not schools, we are not providing any special instruction.” The personnel in the centers are “not teachers,” she said, and if students have special needs the city is working with the district to assist them.

Read the full article about recreation centers for children and families by Dale Mezzacappa at Chalkbeat Philadelphia.