We hope you are staying well and healthy during this challenging time. We wanted to take a moment to provide you with updates on AYS’ (At Your School) response to the COVID-19 Health Crisis and check in on your own well-being amidst this pandemic. Like so many other organizations, businesses, and establishments right now, AYS is facing an unprecedented set of circumstances. With the mass school closures in Indiana, all of our before-and-after school programs, as well as spring break camps, have been closed. In our 40 years of operation, AYS has never had to take measures like these before, but instead of admitting defeat, we are rallying together for our students, our families, and our community.
Childcare for Healthcare Workers and First Responders
Starting Wednesday, March 25, AYS opened a childcare program for healthcare workers and first responders at Broad Ripple High School, and will add locations as the need increases. These brave people are on the front lines of this crisis and must be supported as they go to work, and it is our responsibility to do anything we can to help them do their jobs. Our dedicated team has worked around the clock for the past couple weeks to collaborate with Indianapolis Public Schools, the United Way of Central Indiana, the City of Indianapolis, and several youth-serving organizations to strategically band together to address this critical need. “The men and women of our public safety agencies are on the front lines of our community’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, working long hours and prioritizing resident needs,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Indianapolis is committed to stepping forward and helping to provide much-needed support to these individuals and their family during this unprecedented time.”
Over half of our staff will be stepping up to work to provide childcare for those parents and families who put themselves on the line to keep our community safe. To ensure the safety of both staff and clients, our staff members are being trained in the official CDC protocols and following CDC operating guidelines for school and childcare providers. While the children of healthcare workers and first responders are in our care, it is vital to keep them healthy.
Staffing Protocol and Procedures
We have never been more proud of our AYS staff members who have all shown great spirit and resilience in the face of this adversity. AYS is currently operating under a major revenue deficit due to the school closures across Indiana, but we, as an organization, have dug into our coffers to ensure that our employees are still being paid. All employees who were unable to work last week because of the spread of the Coronavirus will still receive a full paycheck at the end of the week. Our mission has always been to serve families, including our own AYS family. Families stick together when they face hardship and that is exactly what we plan to due as this health crisis continues to develop.
Because you are also a vital part of the AYS family, we want to thank you for your ongoing support. Please know that your continued encouragement is both greatly appreciated, as well as needed in this time of crisis. As the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold, we promise to keep you updated on any changes at AYS. We are keeping a pulse on the needs of all families and continue to look for locations where we can set up enrichment and care programs. As soon as we’re able to reopen programs to families outside of essential medical and emergency professionals, we will provide further updates.
We’re honored that you’re part of our community. Without you, there would be no AYS.
Take care of yourselves and each other.
