Link Associates, a nonprofit serving Iowans with intellectual disabilities, is expanding its care with a new on-site child care option, Link and Learn Daycare, in response to challenges that the organization faced during the pandemic. “During the pandemic, we faced significant staffing shortages, and it became clear that our employees needed better support, especially regarding child care,” Linda Dunshee, executive director of Link Associates, said in a prepared release. “Studies showed that a large percentage of our staff left their jobs when they had children, due to financial constraints.” Link and Learn Daycare, located at 1452 29th St. in West Des Moines, will be open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning today. The center features two classrooms – one for infants to 2-year-olds with a capacity for eight children, and another for 2- to 5-year-olds with a capacity for 24 children. Link and Learn Daycare is not only available to Link Associates employees but also families in the Des Moines area who can enroll at competitive rates and Polk County care providers who can enroll at a 15% to 16% discount. The weekly cost is $195 for children between 0 and 24 months, $180 for children between 25 and 36 months, and $162 for children between 36 and 60 months. An open house and ribbon-cutting for the day care is scheduled for Oct. 18.