Sometimes It May Be Better To Disregard Signs

BA @ Kids Matter

Recently, I was on vacation in Florida.  I love visiting my son, going to the beach, and getting out and sightseeing.  Photography is also a hobby of mine.  I like to take pictures of my family, people, and nature.  But, I also like quirky and interesting things. 

One day we were on our way to my favorite restaurant, at a local fish camp, when I spotted something of which I just had to take a picture!  We were driving on a relatively congested street and there it was, right in the middle of a busy intersection.  It was not a family member, an interesting person, a beautiful Florida flamingo, not even a seagull.  It was just a black and white sign.  Why would I take a picture of a sign?  As soon as I saw it I knew there was a “blog” idea behind that simple message!

The plain black letters on a white sign, including a phone number, simply read:

“Need a Babysitter?   Safe – Reliable   Background Investigated”

Now, I am quite sure that hundreds of people pass that sign on a daily basis.  How many of them have thought about it?  Has anyone called the number?  Could someone truly think that this would be an appropriate way to choose a caregiver for their child?  If so, that parent could definitely use some education on how to choose quality care.   Another sign should be erected in the same location that says:

“Looking for Quality Child Care?  Call your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency!”

I have worked for the Child Care Council of Kentucky (CCC), a local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R), since 1997.  A CCR&R is a great educational resource for parents and guardians. Local staff can provide an abundance of information on how to choose quality child care. Check out the CCC and parent resources on our website at http://cccofky.com/.  There are agencies of this type all across America.  To find one near you, simply do an online search for Child Care Aware (a national resource for parents). Make an educated, smart choice when choosing care for your child. It’s one of the most important decisions a parent or guardian makes.                                                                                                   

It may be best to disregard those signs at busy intersections!

Child Care Assistance Program

The government offers assistance to all qualifying families that can not afford child care. As with any program, there are criteria that must be met in order to qualify. You can check with your local Cabinet for Health and Family Services to get the specific information that is needed to apply. If you are in Kentucky, you can go to this website to get the information for applying.

As with all programs, there are changes and improvements that are frequently made to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). Starting July 1, 2010 in the state of Kentucky there were a number of  changes that have occurred. Questions related to these changes should be directed to 1-800-809-7076. A few of the changes are listed below.

- Non Traditional Hours - effective July 1, non-traditional care is defined by child care provided between the hours of 7:00 pm - 5:00 am daily or Friday from 7:00 pm through Monday 5:00 am. Payment will only be made for the child that attends non-traditional hours.

- Holidays - regulated providers can be paid for up to ten (10) holidays during a calendar year. Providers can choose any ten (10) days to code as holidays to be paid. This count will begin January 1, 2011.

- Overpayments - effective July 1 all overpayments will be pursued for collection. This will include overpayments for agency error and intentional program violation. **Disqualification periods will be imposed for no payment.

As you can see, most of the changes that I have highlighted effect the child care providers instead of parents. If you have any questions, feel free to call 800-809-7076 if you live in the state of Kentucky and some one will answer your questions. All children deserve quality child care!

Kids Matter

Summer is Here! Time for Pool Safety.

Well, now that summer has officially arrived it is time to start thinking about everyone's favorite summertime activity, the pool!

Let's talk about pool safety. As you get ready to go swimming, please remember to watch the kids closely as each year nearly 300 children under the age of 5 drown in residential and commercial pools and nearly 300,000 children go to the emergency room for submersion incidents in pools. Few people realize the hidden dangers from drain or suction entrapment. Drains with broken, missing, or faulty covers can entrap hair, the body, limbs, jewelry and clothing, or cause disembowelment/evisceration. Always remember that a pool drain can be strong enough to trap an adult underwater, so never take your eyes off of kids in a pool. You should always have at least one "pool watcher" when kids are in the pool. If the child is under the age of five, the American Academy of Pediatrics endorses "touch supervision" which means that an adult is always within an arms reach of a child in the pool. Never leave pool toys in the pool when you are not in the pool. This just needlessly tempts children to "reach in" and get their toys, which could result in them falling in the pool.

Everyone in the pool area should know how to swim and there should always be some people that know basic pool safety, like CPR. If you have a residential pool, please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure a safe experience for any persons in or around your pool. The basic safety precautions for a pool owner are installing fences and other barriers, using pool alarms and covers and being sure that all drains are in proper working condition. It is recommended that a pool have at least a four foot barrier, such as a fence with a self closing and self latching gate.

We tell you these things not to frighten but to inform. There is no need to stay away from this popular past time, as long as you are informed and prepared. If you are not current with your CPR certification, you can contact the local Red Cross for classes. If you are in the Lexington, KY area you can also contact the Child Care Council of Kentucky at 859-254-9176 or check our website for a listing of upcoming CPR and First Aid classes.

Get out and have some fun this summer but be sure you protect your kids!

Choosing Summer Child Care

Well, it is almost mid May which means schools will be dismissing for summer break soon. The kids are all thrilled by the prospect of a free summer but the parents that work outside of the home are thinking "Oh no, who will watch my children all summer? Will they be safe?"

We thought this would be a great time to post some tips from Child Care Aware for finding Summer Child Care.

• Looking. Explore all types of child care options - family child care, centers, parks and recreation departments, community based organizations, school districts and day or overnight camps. Be sure to visit each of the programs and do your own evaluation. Do they look safe? Do the staff enjoy talking and interacting with the kids? After you pick your program, be sure to continue to visit it and evaluate it for continued safety for your child.
• Check. How long has the program operated? What percentage of children return each year? Is the program certified or accredited by a professional association? Check references from parents that have used the program.
• Count. Count the number of adults and the number of children they will be responsible for supervising. Be certain there are enough adults to supervise ALL of the different activities that are planned.
• Ask. Ask your child what kind of programs he or she would like to participate in. Involve the kids in the decision making process. Look for training and experience of all adults who will be with your kids. Do they have first aid and CPR training? Are their discipline policies compatible with your philosophy? Are children able to choose among different activities? What do the adults know about child development? How will they encourage your kids independence and help build self-esteem? If the activities are outside, will they be applying sunscreen?
• Be informed. Find out about efforts in your community to support and expand summer child care options, For more information, contact your local child care resource and referral agency. To find your local agency, contact Child Care Aware at: 1-800-424-2246 or visit their website.

Some more tips:

• Be sure to ask about scholarship or financial assistance that may be available to assist families.
• Be sure your child's nutritional needs will be met. Some programs will provide a meal but others will require a brown bag lunch, regardless of the provider of the food be sure your child is getting nutritious meals to keep up their energy and health.
• Check into the program that your kids best friend is attending. They will already have a close buddy to help cut down on any trepidation of being the new kid.
• Children over age 12 may benefit from a counselor trainee program. It is a great self -esteem builder to help kids younger than you.
• Consider hiring a mature teenager or college student to care for your kids.
• Consider setting up a co-op arrangement with neighborhood families or good friends. This could lower the cost by everyone chipping in to hire a couple of caregivers for all the kids. This could provide supervision, companionship and transportation to activities.

You can always visit Child Care Aware for more information on finding good childcare. Your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency can be a huge asset for you.