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More discussion needed after childcare results revealed
By Jennifer Nichols, NT Staff Writer
A survey concerning childcare in Atlantic and the surrounding area revealed more discussion is needed on the topic, and a workshop to discuss the results is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Cass County Community Center.
Kathlene Larson, ISU CD-DIAL Research Director, presented the results, and gave four recommendations including engaging in a study process “to more clearly define a community vision and mission” for child care, continue the collaboration between the community and the Atlantic Community School District and add family childcare providers into the collaboration, study solutions to the transportation problem identified by parents and providers, and find ways to recognize and reward existing family providers and centers for demonstrated competence, such as good quality or achievement in the Iowa Quality Rating System (QRS).
During a recent visit to Atlantic to salute Laurine Price, a childcare provider who runs the facility called “Laurine’s House,” and who recently received a QRS Level 2 rating certificate, Iowa Lt. Governor Sally Pedersen said the system is voluntary, and allows childcare providers to register with the state, and move through a point system to achieve different levels in the system.
Larson explained officials interviewed 30 providers and received 297 surveys in the mail from parents in the mail concerning the topic of childcare.
According to the survey results, providers said they would like to receive higher pay and benefits for their work, and more respect and support from the community. Parents say finding the childcare provider that they trust to take care of their children is difficult, and the cost of childcare is expensive. They also say childcare is needed outside the traditional hours. Both parents and providers said transportation to and from childcare was a big problem.
Fifty-three percent of parents also said they were very unlikely to use a new, affordable, conveniently located childcare center, and 13 percent were somewhat unlikely to use it. Twenty-two percent were somewhat likely to use a new, affordable, conveniently located childcare center, and 12 percent were very likely to do so.
Larson also noted that many parents use a “patchwork” system of childcare in the area. She described the system with this example: “Maybe mom works during the day, and dad works at night. So dad will take care of the kids until he has to leave for work at 1 p.m. The kids who aren’t in school will go to a provider, and the kids in school will go to an after school program. Mom will then pick everyone up after she gets done with work.”
Kathlene Larson, ISU CD-DIAL Research Director, presented the results, and gave four recommendations including engaging in a study process “to more clearly define a community vision and mission” for child care, continue the collaboration between the community and the Atlantic Community School District and add family childcare providers into the collaboration, study solutions to the transportation problem identified by parents and providers, and find ways to recognize and reward existing family providers and centers for demonstrated competence, such as good quality or achievement in the Iowa Quality Rating System (QRS).
During a recent visit to Atlantic to salute Laurine Price, a childcare provider who runs the facility called “Laurine’s House,” and who recently received a QRS Level 2 rating certificate, Iowa Lt. Governor Sally Pedersen said the system is voluntary, and allows childcare providers to register with the state, and move through a point system to achieve different levels in the system.
Larson explained officials interviewed 30 providers and received 297 surveys in the mail from parents in the mail concerning the topic of childcare.
According to the survey results, providers said they would like to receive higher pay and benefits for their work, and more respect and support from the community. Parents say finding the childcare provider that they trust to take care of their children is difficult, and the cost of childcare is expensive. They also say childcare is needed outside the traditional hours. Both parents and providers said transportation to and from childcare was a big problem.
Fifty-three percent of parents also said they were very unlikely to use a new, affordable, conveniently located childcare center, and 13 percent were somewhat unlikely to use it. Twenty-two percent were somewhat likely to use a new, affordable, conveniently located childcare center, and 12 percent were very likely to do so.
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