Budget Cuts Close Four Greenville, South Carolina, Child Care Centers

Greenville, South Carolina -- The economy is causing more painful budget cuts -- this time, hurting some of South Carolina's most vulnerable children.

Four childcare centers for special needs kids will close Dec. 31 as a result of a $22 million state cut.

In Greenville, the abrupt closure of The Hollis Center, gives parents just four weeks to find alternates for their children.

Lori Dozier has a 2-year-old daughter, McKayley, who attends Hollis.

McKayley has epilepsy, medications delayed her development. In just two months, McKayley's vocabulary has grown from fewer than 30 words, to over 100.

"It makes life so much easier being able to say McKayley what do you want ? And she can look at me and say Momma bottle," Dozier said.

Dozier says most typical childcare centers won't accept kids like McKayley. She says other programs for special needs children only take kids with more severe problems, and the ones that do...have a 6- to 12-month waiting list.

"Right now, these children have no where else to go, no other way to get therapy," Dozier said.

Twenty-eight children get therapy and childcare at the Hollis Center. Fifteen employees will be laid off.

The disabilities board is still looking for alternatives, like leasing the center, asking churches if they want to expand their daycares, even having teachers work from home with small groups.

"It is a sad day in the life of our services, Hollis Center has been here since 1970," said Executive Director Brent Parker.