Child Care Needs Debated
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Kosciusko County Foundation's efforts to address child care issues didn't take long to catch fire Wednesday.
An invitation to child care givers, business representatives and other interested groups brought out two dozen people during a meeting in Warsaw.
In less than two hours, the group debated various aspects of the issue and began formulating initial plans for action that would qualify the county for future financial government support.
The availability of new funds is the result of welfare reform that includes new provisions for child care to ensure single parents are able to work.
The program was led by Rick Mappin, a representative of the Dekko Foundation. The not-for-profit organization serves a six-county area and is interested in serving as a conduit with other private foundations and corporations in Indiana to assist in child care needs.
Organizers hope to prioritize concerns and needs and then formulate a plan of action by July.
Among the priorities:
• - Improve community awareness about child care and boost parenting skills.
• - Educate and work with industry to become involved.
• - Assess the demand and types of child care needed locally.
Other issues of concern included the need for second and third shift child care, weekend child care, sick child care, teen mother child care, before- and after-school child care, summer child care, transportation and affordability.
Much of the discussion focused on the need for support from industry. One businessman said businesses need to be shown the benefits of participating in some type of program before commitments would be made.
"We have to be able to demonstrate to industry what the bottom line is. Obviously, productivity is part of that," Mappin said.
Concern about parenting skills and the lack of understanding about the importance of quality child care was also underscored by several people.
Kosciusko County has a population of about 65,000 people, including about 6,000 children in the age group needing child care of some kind. Five licensed child care centers and about 30 home-based child care services are available in the county.
The group will meet at the foundation's office in Warsaw on May 21 to further develop plans. For more information, contact foundation director Suzie Light at 267-1901. [[In-content Ad]]
Kosciusko County Foundation's efforts to address child care issues didn't take long to catch fire Wednesday.
An invitation to child care givers, business representatives and other interested groups brought out two dozen people during a meeting in Warsaw.
In less than two hours, the group debated various aspects of the issue and began formulating initial plans for action that would qualify the county for future financial government support.
The availability of new funds is the result of welfare reform that includes new provisions for child care to ensure single parents are able to work.
The program was led by Rick Mappin, a representative of the Dekko Foundation. The not-for-profit organization serves a six-county area and is interested in serving as a conduit with other private foundations and corporations in Indiana to assist in child care needs.
Organizers hope to prioritize concerns and needs and then formulate a plan of action by July.
Among the priorities:
• - Improve community awareness about child care and boost parenting skills.
• - Educate and work with industry to become involved.
• - Assess the demand and types of child care needed locally.
Other issues of concern included the need for second and third shift child care, weekend child care, sick child care, teen mother child care, before- and after-school child care, summer child care, transportation and affordability.
Much of the discussion focused on the need for support from industry. One businessman said businesses need to be shown the benefits of participating in some type of program before commitments would be made.
"We have to be able to demonstrate to industry what the bottom line is. Obviously, productivity is part of that," Mappin said.
Concern about parenting skills and the lack of understanding about the importance of quality child care was also underscored by several people.
Kosciusko County has a population of about 65,000 people, including about 6,000 children in the age group needing child care of some kind. Five licensed child care centers and about 30 home-based child care services are available in the county.
The group will meet at the foundation's office in Warsaw on May 21 to further develop plans. For more information, contact foundation director Suzie Light at 267-1901. [[In-content Ad]]