|
ELLSWORTH—By now, the
community knows that Child & Family Opportunities has opened a
new childcare center and that it runs the Head Start program.
But the agency provides more services than that.
Childcare Food
Program
“We sponsor childcare
providers to put nutritious meals on tables,” said Phyllis
Young, the agency’s executive assistant.
Family daycare providers submit meal plans to the agency.
If the meals meet U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines, the
agency reimburses the childcare provider for part of the meals.
The agency imparts expertise to home caregivers, as well. It has
a nutritionist on staff to answer questions about children and
their food needs, particularly special issues such as food
allergies.
The agency also sponsors the food program in Washington and
Waldo counties.
Childcare Database
The agency maintains a
database of childcare providers in Hancock and Washington
counties, according to Meg Swift, community childcare director.
Parents may call to find out names and phone numbers of
providers. This also helps providers who cannot afford to
advertise.
“We don’t make recommendations,” Swift said. “We try to arm
parents with enough tools to make good choices for their
children.”
Swift’s program educates parents on what to look for in a
caregiver and what to do before hiring a caregiver such as
giving the provider and child a “trial run” together and
checking references.
Childcare Provider
Training
The agency provides
training to childcare providers as well as technical assistance.
The training covers everything from child development to the
business side of childcare.
The agency helps providers develop forms they might need to use
in their home daycare such as parent-permission forms.
It gives childcare providers information on developing policies
for their business such as how they can address parents who are
always late paying or picking up their children.
Childcare is “a service to families,” said Swift, but “it is a
business.”
The training also provides “networking opportunities” for
childcare providers.
Childcare Voucher
Program
The voucher program
helps parents pay for childcare. Families pay based on income
and family size and the agency pays the difference to the
provider.
Childcare and Local
Employers
The agency advises area
employers on how to help meet their employees’ childcare needs
and gives ideas on how to offer childcare as a benefit.
|
