Summer has come to an unofficial end and the kids are back in school. But whatever the time of year, for some parents finding good childcare is tough. Every month here at Black Hills FOX we recognize one organization that is committed to kids in our area. This month we salute Youth and Family Services Childcare.

Providing affordable, quality childcare. That's the main focus of Youth and Family Services Childcare in Rapid City.

These kiddos - as some staff call them - can start attending the YFS childcare as young as 4 weeks old and continue until they reach the age of 14. Every year close to 200 kids from all walks of life attend these services.

YFS Childcare Coordinator Amanda Moriarty says, "Our kids who come from lower socio-economic status have different experiences than our kids who don't and vice versa, so they are going to be able to learn from each other, stuff that our teachers might not be able to plan out on a lesson plan for them."

Half of YFS's children are from their Headstart program of children coming from low-income households. The other half is targeted at children who come from either single parent working homes or homes where both parents work full-time and childcare is a necessity. So, for some of these kids, the time they spend here at YFS is critical, not only for their childhoods, but also for their futures.

The teachers at YFS say building a child's character can directly impact the kind of person that they become.

Moriarty says, "I know our teachers see their kids that have been in their classrooms years ago out at Walmart, Target, or the Fair, and they always come back with stories of 'Oh my gosh. I saw so and so and they came up to me, can you believe they are in 3rd grade?' So our teachers do feel a lot of responsibility with the kids in their classrooms."

YFS wants these kids to not only learn their ABCs and 123's but hopefully one day pursue their hopes and dreams.

Moriarty says, "We are really focusing on hope. We are really trying to provide hope for these kids to show them that these are things out there for them. We like to bring in firemen, doctors, police officers, and dentists of show them that there is hope and possibility for a bright future them."

YFS Childcare programs have shown that they are Committed to Kids.

Amanda Weber