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The Child Care Challenge

Any parent who has searched for high quality, local child care knows the challenges that search can bring. Long waiting lists, high cost and high turnover rates in staff can leave parents wondering if they should just stay home until their child starts school.
    Parents of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) may not have a choice. Many have to stay home because of their child’s fragile health or feel they cannot comfortably enroll their son or daughter in a child care setting because of other special needs. Although child care providers do have to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, that is helpful only if the needed accomodations are considered reasonable. If a child has complex medical needs, mobility issues that require ramps or elevators, or other needs that would fundamentally alter the nature of a program or pose an undue financial burden, accomodations do not have to be made. In many cases, a child care provider may be willing to make accomodations, but parents feel the risk of the child care setting is too great.
“I was an elementary special ed teacher when my son became ill and eventually disabled. After a few months of trying to work, my husband  and I decided that we could not function with both of us working and I  left my job - because of my son's needs. Even though he is now in kindergarten, I still cannot hold a job due to his medical issues and  child care needs after school. I have no idea who would care for him  if I wanted to work.”
– Valerie Richardson
    Other barriers to child care settings for CSHCN apply to many families regardless of their child’s health or ability. Cost is a major barrier for many families. Child care subsidies are available, however Vermont uses outdated 1999 federal poverty level guidelines to determine eligiblity. A family may be eligible for both Dr. Dynasaur and WIC, yet not be eligible to receive a child care subsidy. A family of four earning a median wage in Vermont would require 21% of their income to go towards child care if two children were preschoolers.
    Availability of high quality, convenient child care is a challenge for many families. Many providers have no openings, or operating hours do not meet the families’ needs.
    Turnover in staff at many centers is a constant struggle for the directors of the programs, contributes to decreasing quality of care and negatively impacts the development of the children in their care. Turnover is exacerbated by low wages and poor benefits. Child care workers need livable wages and health benefits, yet many parents cannot afford to pay higher child care costs. The child care community and families have to work together to raise these issues and advocate for better wages and training opportunities for providers in order to benefit all children.
    Although it can be challenging to find the right child care provider for your child, often families have no choice: they have to work and therefore need child care. Many families are forced, because of limited choices, to choose a setting for their child that may not be optimal.
    Yet child care can make a world of difference in the life of a CSHCN. The opportunities for early socialization, structure and learning can help a child make great strides developmentally.

• Child Development Division, Dept for Children and Families www.dcf.state.vt.us/cdd/
• VT Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies www.vermontchildcare.org 1-877-822-2772
• Vermont’s Child Care Advisory Board www.vermontccab.org
• Healthy Child Care Vermont - contact your local health department
• Voices for Vermont Children www.childrensforum.org 802-229-6377
• Head Start and Early Head Start are national programs which provide comprehensive development services for low income children and social services for their families. 802-651-5310 (VT Head Start Association) www.VHSA.net