Meeting focuses on Mountain Lake’s child care needs, not enough providers
Karen DeBoer, director of the Southwestern Minnesota Opportunity Council (SMOC) of Worthington, focusing on Community Partnerships and Parent Aware, led an informational meeting for those needing and providing child care on Monday evening, June 30, in Mountain Lake City Hall. DeBoer is working with the community free-of-charge as part of her position with SMOC.
Also participating on the panel were Sherry Pankratz of the Mountain Lake Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) and Rob Anderson, director of the Mountain Lake Economic Development Authority (EDA).
DeBoer shared a powerpoint and hand-out of the survey results of the Mountain Lake Child Care Needs Assessment, taken from March to June 2014. She additionally pinpointed what it takes to provide quality child care, that information provided from the Region 8 Child Care Area of West/Central Minnesota.
Although the emphasis of the meeting was on what it takes to get started as a child care provider (whether in family child care, in a child care center or in employer child care) the results of the assessment – as well as those in the audience looking for child care – proved there is a need to be addressed in Mountain Lake.
In fact, in response to the question if child care options are needed, of the 63 families answering, 61 (or 96.83%) replied yes. Only two families (3.17%) said no.
The top three most important factors affecting the choice of child care for children were location, cost and availability. Additional factors included a loving, nurturing and educational environment.
The areas in which child care is needed, per assessment results (based on responses from 56 families) include:
* Infant Care – 69.64% (39 families).
* Evening or Overnight Care – 42.86% (24 families).
* Full-Time Care – 73.21% (41 families).
* Summer School Care – 37.50% (21 families).
* Part-Time Care – 48.21% (27 families).
* Drop-In Care – 48.21% (27 families).
* Before- or After-School Care – 55.36% (31 families).
* Education/Curriculum-Driven Care – 30.36% (17 families).
This month (July), one child care provider in Mountain Lake is retiring, adding to the shortage of facilities. However, it was reported at the meeting that at this time, perhaps as many as three entities are either considering or are in the process of obtaining licensure, following the necessary training along with health, safety and fire checks.
DeBoer noted that Minnesota has just implemented a state quality rating system for certified Parent Aware Child Care facilities, as well as early learning scholarships of $3,000 to $5,000 a year that can be accessed by families whose children attend child care sites which are a part of the organization. Parent Aware Child Care facility registration is one part of DeBoer’s focus in her position with SMOC.
Anderson added that the EDA has available a low-interest, long-term loan program, coordinated with a bank and/or other funding sources, to assist those interested in starting a child care facility within the city limits.
In addition, Pankratz stated that the ECI can assist those beginning a child care service by connecting them to either the Des Moines Valley Health and Human Services (for county licensure for family child care or employer day care) or the Minnesota Department of Human Services (for receiving a state license for a child care center).
For those with questions or needing assistance on this topic, contact DeBoer via e-mail at: kdeboer@smoc.us – by phone at: 507-376-4195, Extension #231.
The website for Child Care Aware is: www.childcareaware.org.
