News Summary
The Family Enrichment Center in Bowling Green has been providing a crucial crisis drop-off program for children aged 6 months to 5 years. This initiative supports families facing challenges such as job interviews or mental health breaks, offering nourishment and educational activities. With 20% of children in Warren County living in poverty, the program is vital for preventing child abuse and offering essential care. The FEC aims to help while advocating for better child care resources in Kentucky amid increasing costs.
Bowling Green – In a significant effort to combat child abuse and support vulnerable families, the Family Enrichment Center (FEC) in Bowling Green has maintained its crisis drop-off program. Established in 1977, the center has consistently set aside at least one free seat for children in need, a commitment sustained through grant funding.
Warren County currently faces challenges, with around 20% of children living in poverty and facing food insecurity, according to the 2024 KIDS COUNT County Data Book. The crisis drop-off program addresses this issue by allowing parents to bring their children to the FEC when they are unable to care for them due to job interviews, doctor’s appointments, court appearances, or mental health breaks. This vital support is aimed particularly at children aged 6 months to 5 years, who are most at risk for child abuse.
Statistics indicate that children who utilize the crisis drop-off program are typically around one year old. During their time at the FEC, the children receive essential nourishment, including a breakfast snack and a complimentary lunch that features protein, vegetables, fruits, grains, and dairy. They also benefit from a play-based classroom environment that promotes healthy development and engagement.
The FEC’s crisis drop-off service is distinctive, as no other local facilities currently offer a similar program. This service plays a crucial role in the community, highlighted by support from local organizations such as St. Teresa Ministries, which contributes a $20,000 grant. Kosair for Kids also aids the program with a $50,000 grant and advocates against the dangers of leaving young children home alone.
The current landscape of the Kentucky child care industry reveals troubling challenges. In 2024, many facilities faced cuts in worker pay, tuition increases, service reductions, and even closures due to a loss of COVID-19 relief funds. These circumstances have intensified the demand for affordable, quality child care, especially against a backdrop of rising costs and increasing rates of child abuse in the state.
To further support families, the FEC provides parenting classes and supervised visitation services. Additionally, they collaborate with senior volunteers from The Foster Grandparents Program to assist children in improving their intellectual skills. The crisis drop-off service allows each child to attend for a maximum of 30 days per year and no more than 10 hours per week.
The financial burden of child care in Kentucky is significant, with the average annual cost reaching $8,756, or approximately $730 monthly. In 2023, Kentucky’s Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) supported around 35,000 children, representing about 21% of available child care slots statewide. Advocates are calling for increased state support for child care, particularly to assist middle-income families and improve wages for child care workers.
Child care is increasingly recognized as critical to economic development, with the demand for quality early childhood programming growing in order to attract businesses and workers. In response to the pressing need for enhanced childcare resources, an advisory committee was formed under an executive order from Governor Andy Beshear in June 2025 to explore universal pre-kindergarten programs in Kentucky.
Despite the challenges, the Family Enrichment Center continues its commitment to the community by maintaining one open seat per classroom for a child in need, without having to turn away paying clients. Current discussions about child care’s perception emphasize the importance of recognizing it as an essential educational service rather than merely a form of babysitting.
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Additional Resources
- Kentucky Lantern: Child Care in Kentucky
- Richmond Register: Child Care Facility Response
- 13ABC: Allegations Against Child Care Center
- WNKY: Early Childhood Appreciation Event
- Kentucky.com: Child Care Politics
- Wikipedia: Child Care
- Google Search: Child Care in Kentucky
- Google Scholar: Child Care Kentucky
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child Care
- Google News: Kentucky Child Care
Author: STAFF HERE BOWLING GREEN WRITER
The BOWLING GREEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBowlingGreen.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Bowling Green, Warren County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the National Corvette Homecoming, International Festival, concerts at SKyPAC, and sports events at Beech Bend Park. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce and the African American Museum Bowling Green Area, plus leading businesses in automotive, apparel, and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors Corvette Assembly Plant, Fruit of the Loom, and Med Center Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HERELexingtonKY.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
