Helen Woodward Animal Center Provides Educational Assistance to Children of Employees
Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. (Aug. 12, 2020) – In March this year, as news of COVID-19 spread, school classrooms were forced to shut their doors to more than half of all children in the U.S. Families from coast to coast hoped the unprecedented action would be a relatively short-term solution. Unfortunately, as pandemic numbers continue to soar, the goal of welcoming kids back to populated and seemingly precarious school hallways has been halted, leaving working parents with challenging choices. In response, Helen Woodward Animal Center is proud to provide a new COVID-19 assistance program for its dedicated employees. Beginning August 20th, children of Center employees will receive on-site daycare with licensed teachers to assist with on-line learning tailored to age, grade and subject matter.
As school starts back into session and elementary, junior, and high school kids across the country face the unenviable task of attempting to learn via laptop, Helen Woodward Animal Center staff members are being offered the opportunity to bring their children to work for individualized assistance. Five classrooms are currently being set up for the fourteen children enrolled in the program, with an open invitation extended to parents who have currently opted out. The assistance is completely free and available to children of full-time, part-time, and on-call employees.
“It was brought to my attention that, in the current climate, parents who work day jobs are facing the decision of whether to keep their jobs or stay home to tutor their children to help them succeed,” explained Helen Woodward Animal Center President and CEO Mike Arms. “That didn’t sit right with me. These are loving parents who have been placed in a terrible position. They shouldn’t have to decide between whether they can pay their bills or help their kids. I consider the Center employees my family so it was important to me to find a solution. I hope other companies will follow suit.”
The Center assistance will take place three days a week with licensed teachers available to students from grades Kindergarten to 10th. Currently, the program is scheduled to run through November 2020. Should school closures continue into 2021, an extension of the program is likely. All county, state, and federal CDC guidelines and protocols will be followed, keeping kids and teachers safe and socially distanced.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a day at Helen Woodward Animal Center without a furry visitor or two and the Center’s Humane Education department plans to provide some smiles during lunch breaks with their animal ambassadors.
“These are challenging times for all of us,” stated Helen Woodward Animal Center Education Manager Haylee Blake. “It’s particularly hard on kids who have now gone months without being able to see their friends, play on teams, and just be kids. We know the healing power of animals and the way they help to ease stress. We wouldn’t plan a program like this without them.”
For information on Helen Woodward Animal Center and its adoptable pets and programs, log onto www.animalcenter.org.