SANFORD — Child care services currently provided to 105 youngsters in Sanford and Kittery ”“ and an array of indirect services for about 3,500 more children across York County ”“ may no longer be available by September.

Child Care Services of York County, which began here in 1974, is hoping that some other agencies will step forward and take over parts or all of its operations. In the meantime, the agency’s board of directors has chosen to terminate the corporation, Director Bill Hager said in an interview Tuesday.

Child Care Services of York County, United Way of York County and York County Community Action Corporation are hosting a meeting at the YCCAC offices at 6 Spruce St. at 3 p.m. on June 18 to talk about the impact of possibly losing the services and discuss alternatives.

Hager said the agency’s viability has diminished over time, but the administrative responsibilities remain. He said the state has changed its funding model for how it helps low-income, working families, and that, along with other reimbursement changes, has taken a toll.

“The funding change has been dramatic over the last four to five years,” he said. “And we simply can’t maintain the overhead.”

If no one picks up the program, it will affect working families, Hager said.

The most visible of the programs offered by CCSYC are the child care programs, which provide care for upwards of 75 infants, toddlers and pre-school children in Sanford and another 30 in Kittery.

“The goal is now to find alternative homes for the current programming,” Hager said in a recent letter sent to several agencies. “If that fails, the loss to the community will range from parents unable to work or attend school, children not receiving necessary therapies, and an overall reduction in the both quantity and quality of care for children throughout the county.”

At its peak, Child Care Services of York County was a $4.5 million operation. It is now a $1.2 million operation, Hager estimated..

Brian Samia, vice chairman of the CCSYC Board of Trustees, said ideally, a plan would be worked out that would mean no closure ”“ that some other agency could operate the programs and services under its helm. One possible solution that was explored ultimately didn’t work out, but Samia said there are ongoing conversations with some other entities.

Samia said the board began to see changes coming about five years ago and had the foresight to join with other nonprofits to consolidate some functions, like bulk buying of commodities, but that is not enough.

About one third of the children who attend the child care program self-pay, with the rest subsidized through a variety of state and local programs, he said. The child care program includes services for about 30 special needs and developmentally delayed children and another 20 or so with significant medical issues.

CCSYC also provides support to about 40 York County child care providers via the Carelink Child and Adult Childcare Food Program, where low-income kids get meals at daycare. As well, Carelink, which used to be a state program, provides training to about 240 child care workers, and about 25 child care teachers are enrolled in a separate credentializing program.

The agency employs about 25 child care teachers and three to four administrative staff members, Samia estimated.

Sanford Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy called the situation very unfortunate. “There’s something to be said for consistency, especially with nonprofits,” she said. “And the way governments work, you have no ability to be sure of tomorrow.”

Barbara Wentworth, director of United Way of York County, said United Way has been providing financial support to CCSYC ”“ as it does to a number of other agencies ”“ for many years. She said the agency provides high-quality services.

“There have been many changes,” both on the federal and state levels, that have affected non profits like CCSYC, said Wentworth. “A perfect storm evolved and they’re not the only ones.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or [email protected].