THE HOURS WE CAN'T BE HOME
CHAPTER 1: STARTING WITH YOU
Carole Eller
Extension Educator, Youth and Resource Development
Cooperative Extension System
University of Connecticut
Elizabeth Prosl-Salsado
ExtensionEducator, Youth and Resource Development
Cooperative Extension System
University of Connecticut
Barbara A. Lescault-Cooley
Consultant
Collaboration for Connecticut's Children
Copyright/Access Information
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You have determined that there is no adequate school age child care program in your community. Are there other parents who need the same service and are willing to work with you? The easiest way to find out is to work through the PTA or PTO at your child's school.
Bring up the subject of school age child care at the next PTA/PTO meeting, and ask to meet with any interested parents. It is possible to form a core group and together, with support from the PTA/PTO, survey parents of the entire school population. Two questions that are the most important to ask are: (1) how many children might use the day care service and (2) what parents might be willing to work with you? Develop a questionnaire that pinpoints the need with a cover letter to parents. This letter must be approved by the school system, signed by a representative of the PTA/PTO, and then sent home with every child in the school system.
A suggested letter follows:
Dear Parent,
The Somerset PTA/PTO had a request from concerned parents to see if there is a need for before and after school child care in our community. They wish to do a needs survey to find out if there are Somerset families interested in a program similar to the community-sponsored programs in East Valley and Pleasantville.
A school age child care program would be available to all children; those with parents working outside the home and those who would enjoy being involved with the activities the program would provide. Based on the needs of the Somerset community, the program would operate during the school year: before and after school, during school vacations, and during school holidays.
Please take a minute to answer the attached questionnaire, and return it to your child's teacher or your school office by November 1. Your cooperation will help the PTA/PTO and parents to organize a committee and determine the type of program that will be best for the children.
Thank you for your time, and we look forward to your support and interest.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. John Good
Program Chairman
Somerset PTA/PTO
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(one questionnaire per family)
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Please have your child return this questionnaire to his/her teacher by November 1.
Parent/Guardian Name: _____
Address: _____
Telephone: Home _____ Work _____ Work _____
Childrens' Names:
Name _____ Age _____ Grade _____
Name _____ Age _____ Grade _____
Name _____ Age _____ Grade _____
1. Do you currently have arrangements for before/after school care for your child(ren) on a regular basis?
__Yes __No
__ Five days
__ Less than five days/week: Number of days ___
__ Before school from ___ to ___
__ After school from ___ to ___
__ Holidays and school vacations
__ Yes, but for pre-school-age
2. If you do not presently need child care services, do you anticipate needing this care in:
__ Six months
__ One year
__ Two years
__ Three years
__ Other, explain _____
3. If a well-constructed, quality BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL Child Care Program is initiated in Somerset, will you:
a. Use the program?
__ Yes __ No Other: _____
b. Support its development
__ Yes __ No Other: _____
4. Will you attend a FORUM on SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE to be held on Wednesday, January 19, at 7:30 p.m. at the Somerset Elementary School to find out more about this program?
__ Yes __ No Other: _____
5. What would you consider a fair daily fee for Before and After School care?
Before $3.00 __ $3.50 __ $4.00 __
Before/After $7.00 __ $8.00 __ $9.00 __
After $5.00 __ $6.00 __ $7.00 __
6. The following is a list of activities commonly offered in Before and After School programs. Please check the FIVE activities you would most like to see offered in a program in Somerset Elementary School. Please add any suggested areas or activities you feel are important that are not on the list:
__ Dance
__ Woodworking
__ Movies
__ Arts & Crafts
__ Gymnastics
__ Computer Learning & Recreational Software
__ Food Preparation
__ Homework (Reading/Study)
__ Clubs, 4-H
__ Field Trips (Travel)
__ Drama
__ Exercise/Jazzercise Classes
__ Games
__ Music/Instruments/Choral
__ Sports
__ Free Play (Adult Supervised)
__ Tutoring
__ Foreign Language
__ Martial Arts
__ Other, please list suggestions: _____
7. Are you willing to serve on the committee to organize a Before and After School Child Care Program?
__ YES! Please call me at Home _____ Work _____
__ YES, but not until _____ when I will be free to participate in the planning.
__ NO, I cannot join the committee at this time, but I am in full support of having a Before and After School Child Care Program at the Somerset Elementary School.
__ NO, I am not interested in this type of program.
8. Other Comments: _____
_____(Parent/Guardian Signature)_____ Date_____
Please have your child return this by November 1. Thank you.
____________________________________________________________
You have tallied the survey, and the need is conclusive. Call together members of the PTA/PTO who have already expressed an interest plus those parents who have responded yes to the question, "Are you willing to serve
on the committee to organize a School Age Child Care Program." Send notes to each of the people you are inviting, clearly stating the time, the place, and the purpose of the meeting.
This session has many purposes:
You may wish to be assisted by a community leader who supports the program and will help you define your purposes and set an agenda for the meeting.
Sample Agenda:
Meeting on School Age Child Care
Date:
Time:
Place:
1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Membership List
3. Elect Leadership
4. Elect Recording Secretary
5. Purpose of the Group
6. Plan for Public Forum
The meeting site should be comfortable, with coffee and refreshments.
Brainstorming is a tool that can be put to good use at your first meeting. It has been used successfully by politicians, scientists, inventors, and corporate leaders to allow the free exchange of ideas. This technique calls for an open atmosphere where people say whatever comes to mind, allowing them to be creative and free to express themselves. Criticism and put downs are not allowed, as they inhibit participation. Ideas can be recorded, reviewed, and prioritized.
The FORUM is a good way to inform, as well as involve, the overall community in the planning. It is also a way to build bridges with other civic groups and people who can help in later stages of development. Members of the planning group should personally invite representatives of as many community groups as possible. For example: Civitans, Jaycees, Junior League, Women's Club, Lion's Club, church groups, town council, principal, superintendent, board of education, police department, fire department, 4-H, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, a local attorney, and other community groups that your committee feels are important. An announcement can accompany a hand written note. We recommend an invitation be sent to all teachers in the school system. This stresses the importance of working together.
DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK ANY AND ALL PEOPLE FOR THEIR HELP! Begin to assign jobs to the members of your committee according to the members' preferences, talents, and time availability; one member may have toll free telephoning and can make telephone calls finding out officials' names and addresses; another member may have a typewriter and be able to share in the letter-writing to officials; members with artistic talents can design flyers; and those with little time to spare can stuff envelopes and do mailings.
The FORUM should have speakers from nearby towns that have school age child care programs already in place, someone from the state department of education, someone from the state health department, and someone from the Small Business Administration. Representatives from these groups will be able to answer many questions.
The FORUM should be conducted by someone who has good public speaking and leadership experience and can channel the session toward the desired positive end.
Be sure to have name tags, coffee, and refreshments the night of the FORUM. Have several sign-up sheets available for participants' names, addresses, phone numbers, and if they would be willing to help.
SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE FORUM
TOWN OF SOMERSET, CONNECTICUT
WHEN: Wednesday, January 18
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
WHERE: Elementary School Auditorium
Based on the overwhelming results of the "Needs-Assessment School Age Child Care Survey" that was sponsored by the PTA/PTO in October, an informational forum will be held to present various School Age Child Care Programs currently being administered in neighboring towns.
You are cordially invited to attend the January Forum, which will include presentations from the following group of panelists:
Child & Day Care Program Staff
Early Childhood Unit
State Department of Education
Chairman of the Board of Directors
C.O.O.L. (Andover's Community Organized and Operated Latchkey Program)
Day Care Program Specialist
State Health Department
Hartford, Connecticut
Director
Neighborhood Care, YWCA
Manchester, Connecticut
Latchkey Coordinator
Metropolitan Hartford
YMCA
Principal
Northwest School
Manchester, Connecticut
Director
Small Business Administration
Hartford, Connecticut
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