Parents working to form child-care facility

THIS STORY RAN IN THE PRINT EDITION OF THE KANSAN ON JULY 15, 2008.

A group of parents and concerned residents have banded together to explore the possibility of opening a community child-care center in Newton.

Parents expressed frustration at the lack of affordable child care in Newton, and members of the business community recognized the need to provide care to attract and keep quality employees.

The non-profit group has elected officers and is preparing paperwork to become a 501c3, which would give it non-profit status.

More than $700 has been donated for the filing of that paperwork, said Tim Hodge, lawyer and parent associated with the group.

The group does not yet know where a child-care center would be located or when it might open.

The group is interested in modeling the center after Hesston Community Child Care Center and has been working with the center staff on developing plans for the Newton center, said Kirsten Horton, parent and member of the group.

Horton moved her children to the Hesston center after Newton Medical Center child-care center changed its rate structure and raised its rates.

Horton said she got lucky to get spots for her children, a newborn son and 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter.

She said she will save $500 per month by sending her children to Hesston.

Horton said she hopes a Newton Community Child Care Center would provide more slots for children and more affordable rates.

She said the group also has discussed applying for grants so the center could accept children from low-income families.

NMC’s child care center had a drop in enrollment of almost 50 percent after it changed its rate structure, said Susan Graber, center director.

The center stopped taking part-time enrollment and raised its rates.

NMC has provided almost $300,000 in supplemental funding to the center but has decided to cut that funding for the coming school year. The hospital will continue to provide the center a building and other support services.

The NMC child care center had enrollment restricted to hospital staff and affiliates.

As of July 4, the center has opened enrollment to the general community.

The center will have an open house from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the center, 805 Medical Center Drive.

Despite the new openings at NMC child care center, Newton still remains in a child care crunch, said Rita Flickinger, director of the Harvey County Health Department.

That crunch is especially hard felt for parents looking for care for children younger than 3.

The health department oversees the licensing of child care providers in the community.

Flickinger said the department continues to register new individuals to provide child care, but for those who choose to offer care, there are those who chose to discontinue care.

Bill Hake, branch president of The Citizens State Bank, said child care is an economic development issue.

“People will choose not to work if they can’t find quality, affordable child care,” Hake said. “Many of these people are the people we want most in the workforce. …

“Unemployment is low in this community. We need all the good employees we can get in this community.”

Hodge said he was optimistic for the Newton Community Child Care Center.

“There are definitely some concrete steps that are being taken,” he said. “I think there are some good indicators the stars will line up, and we will have something ready to go in short order.”