Wednesday, August 18.1976
Toddlers and classes rarely mix; child-care serves campus parents
By SUE WILSON Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Ellen Reynolds is a single parent. She also goes to school and works. Be a mother, a student and a wage earner is a sometimes tedious trioil.
As a coordinator for the Graduate Student Council, she works at least 20 hours a week.
As a graduate student in anthropology and public administration, Ellen goes to college.
While Ellen works and studies, someone else must care for her 6-year-old son Jessie. Since her divorce two years ago, Ellen has moved to Nashville. Jesse's financial and emotional support.
FINDING THE best child care at an affordable cost is a difficult task for stigmatized girls.
A parent can ask other parents for the
'Any parent who advertises in the papers for child care will get a barrage of calls.'
name of a reliable sitter. The identity of an ideal sitter is, however, often a family secret as guarded from public knowledge as the euphemisms for toilet training. The sitter can, after all, only care for a limited number of children.
A parent who advertises in a newspaper for child care will receive a barrage of calls. He or she then must choose among the options and asks, "Was you the one wantin' someone to watch a kid?" and charges $3 a day to the unemployed education major who promises, "I will stimulate reading and learn underachiever," and charges $3 an hour.
A trip through the babysitter jungle turns same parents to the more civilized world of the jungle.
HERE THE University of Kansas can help. The Dean of Women's office hands out a list of licensed child care homes and centers to inquiring parents. The list gives fees, programs, hours and age limitations for state-licensed facilities in Douglas County.
There are 21 licensed part-day child care programs, 12 licensed full-day facilities and 15 licensed home-day centers for preschool children in Douglas County. Licensing does not guarantee merit but does provide that safety and that child ratios and other regulations are met.
When Ellen moved to Lawrence four years ago, she chose a licensed daycare center. She enrolled Jesse, then 2 years old, in this hilltop Child Development Center.
Ellen said she had been unhappy with the inepititude of many sitters. Hillip, on the other hand, was a "warm, close, caring environment" run by specialists in child care.
HILLTOP, 1314 Oread, is on the edge of the KU campus east of the Kansas Union. It is affiliated with the University through a liaison with the department of human development and family life. The Student and University administration pay its rent.
Hillop careps for 90 children ages 1½ to 6.
Ten full-time teachers and up to 40 volunteers supervise the children. The volunteers are often students training at KU in child-related programs such as human development or psychology.
Ellen said she was pleased with Jesse's development during his four years at Heilen.
"He's got into learning -reading and math-and experiences with animals and field trips. Most important of all, he's learned to live with other people." Ellen
ELLEN FOUND what for her and Jesse was the best daycare facility. Paying for the care she needed, Ellen
Ellen earns $400 a month in her work for the Graduate Student Council. Child care for jesse costs $130 a month. After rent, food and clothing are paid for, not much is. Ellen said she often has had to use student loans to pay her tuition.
Last spring Ellen got some financial help for Jesse's care. His tuition at Hillap was paid in full by funds administered by the Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS).
SHS, a federal program administering Title XX funds, matches money raised by the children of U.S. veterans to the Association. The association, formed four years ago to advance the well being of young children, has raised $21,000 for 1976 and awarded Lawrence, Douglas County and United Fund.
THE $21,000 is triple matched to bring $73,000 to the county for helping work or student parents whose incomes qualify them for financial assistance.
Parents who qualify for assistance may attend Children's Learning Center, approved daycare center - Hilltop, Childre's Learning Center, Little Indian Center or United Child Development Center.
Although $73,000 was received for 1976, the Langley, public direction for these children was $187,000 that be needed if all income-eligible children were to receive 100 per cent of tuition fees.
"BFORE I got the money for 'Jesse from SIS, it was almost like it was money." You could be confident you would.
receive more money than if you were trying to better, yourself by, going to school."
Although Elen found affordable care for her son, she has had problems finding insurance care.
"I'd love to see baby-sitting at a place like Hilltop during University events," Ellen
Hilltop, in a new program, is offering child care during home football games this fall.
care during home football games this fall.
They can help find parents of children.
Strong Hall can help find evening sisters.
The center keeps a file on students who want to do babysitting and parents who need to keep track.
When Jesse is sick, Ellen must miss work and school. She crossed her fingers this summer when a virus swept through the building to build new classrooms and grounding mothers. Her luck held.
"It could have been a real bitch," Ellen said.
Jesse will be in the first grade this fall.
'A trip through the babysitter jungle turns parents to the licensed child care center.'
and Elene faces a new problem—what to do with him before and after school.
JUST HOW many students face problems like Ellen is is unknown. The University doesn't even know how many students are able to be heard no study of parents' problems and needs.
A survey administered during enrollment this fall may answer some questions. The survey is being conducted by the KU Child Care Task Force, a 10-member committee appointed by Del Shankel, executive vice chancellor.
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