LOWELL, Ark. (KNWA/FOX24) — The government shutdown is having an effect on childcare services in Northwest Arkansas.

After School Program is a service that has on-site after school care at 26 local schools and a full daycare program. ASP provides care for over 200 families in the community.

Those families are now at risk of losing services due to substantial funding cuts.

According to Jeremy Baker, a director at ASP, they were informed on September 16th that their federal funding would be cut by 60%. As of October 1st, those cuts went into effect.

Baker said the program uses that funding to help pay for many necessary resources.

"We've used it for quality team members, competitive pay and then the big thing is to keep our ratios low," Baker said.

With the reduced funding it is now fo

See Full Page