Officials want working parents to know there are child care services available to them so they don't leave their children alone and unsupervised.
That's after a Rochester couple left their three children, ranging in age from one month to 8 years old, alone on a bench at Eastview Mall while they went to work at the shopping center.
Member of the executive board of the Federation of Social Workers, John Rabish, says the story of that Rochester couple and their children is sad and tragic.
He says daycare or child care support is available for working parents from a number of sources, including community centers and churches, and through preventive services programs in the county.
"The Department of Human Services is in every county. We have agencies in Monroe County like Catholic Family Center. There are a lot of resources out there that are available, but it's just a question for many people of pointing them in the right direction and helping them to access those services," he said.
Rabish says he thinks there are many working people in the community who don't know that daycare or child care support is available for them.
Child Protective Services is now involved, and Rabish says their role is to assess why this circumstance occurred and show the parents how to access resources to prevent this from happening again.
One option for parents in a similar predicament is the Crisis Nursery run by the Center for Youth.
Executive Director Elaine Spaull says it’s a small house on Genesee Park Blvd that can take in six to eight children.
“So many families have come to us in emergency crisis situations. It’s not a child care center. It’s not a place that can help you over a week, two or three weeks. It’s a place that can help you in the moment.”
Spaull says people can call the 24 hour helpline at 271-7670 for more information.
She says the Crisis Nursery on Genesee Park Boulevard served 1065 people last year, and she's looking to add another crisis nursery on the city's east side.