Chicago

Resources for Parents During Chicago Teachers Strike

Here's a look at places available to assist parents during the strike

With more than 25,000 Chicago Public Schools teachers and staff on the picket lines during a days-long strike, parents are forced to make alternate arrangements for their children. 

Here's a look at places available to assist parents during the strike: 

YMCA Locations

Several locations will be open for children and parents from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fees will vary depending on locations and "Schools Day Out" programs will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. The organization said it plans to offer "affordable rates to help working parents keep their kids safe and engaged when school is not in session." 

High Ridge YMCA 2424 W. Touhy Ave., Chicago, IL 60645

Irving Park YMCA 4251 W. Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60641

Kelly Hall 824 N. Hamlin Ave. Chicago, IL 60643

Lake View YMCA 3333 N. Marshfield, Chicago, IL 60657

Leaning Tower YMCA 6300 W. Touhy Ave., Niles, IL 60714

McCormick YMCA 1834 N. Lawndale Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

Rauner Family YMCA 2700 S. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60608

South Side YMCA 6330 S. Stony Island, Chicago, IL 60637

West Communities YMCA 6235 S. Homan Ave., Chicago, IL 60629

North Lawndale YMCA 3449 W. Arthington, Chicago IL 60624

Safe Haven locations

SOUTH SIDE

Allen Metropolitan CME CME church-- 10946 S. Lowe

Alliance for Community Peace… 7740 S. Eberhart ave

Brightstar Comm outreach… 333 E. 35th St.

Christian Fellowship South.. 107 24 s. Ewing 

Concord Missionary Baptist Church 6319 S. Kimbark 

St. Sabina … 1210 W. 78th place

Grant Memorial .. 4017 S. Drexel

Hartzell Memorial United Methodist Church… 3330 S. King Drive 

Institute for Positive living 435 E. 35th street 

WEST SIDE

Chance after Chance Ministry, 305-09 N. Cicerco

Chicago Tabernacle of the Assemblies of God, 3231 N. Cicero

Corinthian Temple Church of God and Christ. 4520 W. Washington 

Greater Holy Temple Church of God and Christ, 246 N. California

Heirs of the Promise ministry.. 4821 W. Chicago Ave.

Home of Life Community development 4650 w. Madison st.

Hope Community church-- 5900 W. Iowa St. 

Care Ministries 4925 W. Division street 

Jesus Word Center church 4224 W. 13th Street 

NORTH SIDE:

Grace and Peace 2100 N. Kildare 

Family Empowerment Centers 1533 W. Devon 

Grace and Peace 2100 N. Kildare 

Salvation Army

Freedom Center

825 N. Christiana Ave., Chicago, IL 60651

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Regular after-school program runs 4-7:30 p.m.

Will serve light breakfast, lunch, snack (as well as dinner for those who stay for after school)

No charge

Chicago Lawn Corps

5950 S. Spaulding Ave., Chicago, IL 60629

9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

No charge

Will serve lunch

Can take up to 50 children

Kroc Center

1250 W. 119th St., Chicago, IL 60643

8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

$15 daily charge // $50 weekly per child

After-school care will be offered from 3-6 p.m. for an extra $20

Will serve lunch and snack

Can take up to 200 children

Community Centers

KLEO Center: 119 E. Garfield

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

No fee

Chicago Public Libraries

Chicago Public Libraries will also open, along with a limited number of parks, which will offer additional children's activities for the day, the mayor's office said. Find a location that will be open nearest to you here

Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club

The Neighborhood Boys and Girls Club in 2500 block of West Irving Park Road will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the duration of the strike, a spokeswoman said. Families that are not already enrolled in the club’s after-school program will be charged $60 per day. Financial assistance is available.

Shedd Aquarium

Shedd Aquarium is extending its day camp learning program for Chicago families as an alternative to traditional child care during a potential teacher’s strike, an aquarium spokeswoman said. Starting Oct. 17, the program will run on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free child care. After care is also included from 3-5 p.m. The program is only for CPS students in grades K-5. It will cost $100 per day ($90 for members). Parents or guardians can register their children for one or more days. In the event of regular class resumption, pre-paid program fee registrations for all non-strike days will be automatically refunded to the original method of payment, according to the aquarium. 

Marillac St. Vincent Family Services 

Beginning Monday, Oct. 21, students affected by the strike will be welcome at Marillac St. Vincent. Breakfast, lunch, and a snack will be provided, and students will be given an opportunity to participate in gym activities, computer lab work, homework and tutoring services, and arts and crafts. 

All parents who already have children enrolled in activities at the organization's facilities can drop their children off beginning on Thursday at either of the group's locations. 

The organization has locations at the Marillac Social Center, located in the 200 block of South Francisco Avenue in Chicago's East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side, and the St. Vincent DePaul Center, located in the 2100 block of North Halsted in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. 

El Valor 

In partnership with the Peggy Notebaert Nature museum, El Valor will offer STEM-based activities at all three of its Chicago locations, according to a Facebook post. 

The programs will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for children ages 5-12. Breakfast, lunch, and a snack will be provided to kids, and parents are advised not to send their children with food from home. 

There will be a charge of $15 per day for the program, and money will be collected at the door, the group says. All programs will be on a first come, first serve basis, and will be limited to 20 children. 

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