A Westchester mom is taking advantage of a free county child care program that allows her to care for her patients.

Sarah Souem is a nurse practitioner and single mom of two who still has patients to care for.

Westchester County launched a child care program to help with school closings due to the coronavirus.

Local school districts and community groups are now working to get people like Souem's children into a safe place while she continues to work.

"Without the child care I wouldn't have been able to go to work, so this is very important,” says Souem, who works at Scarsdale Medical Group.

She's among a handful of families taking advantage of the program at the YMCA of Central and Northern Westchester in White Plains.

The program is free for health care workers and first responders.

"Child care is No. 1 right now so many people don't know what to do with the schools closed. We need our nurses, we need our doctors, first responders, and essential personnel working,” says Cynthia Delfino, YMCA CNW president.

The YMCA has procedures in place to make sure that each child's health is the top priority.

"Keep the distancing as recommended, as an adult you can't come into the building, you come to the front door, we take your temperature, we take your children's temperature,” says Delfino.

Organizers believe the need for child care will grow if schools remain closed over the next few weeks.

MORE: Child Care Council's website with list of open child care programs

MORE: Direct link to .pdf with list of programs open as of Wednesday 

 GET INFORMATION: Coronavirus details from the CDC

 

 

 

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