NORWICH – Nearly two years after Catholic Charities of Chenango County closed the doors of The Children’s Center on Virginia Lane in Norwich, the local division of the Family Enrichment Network (FEN) is leading a discussion among area legislative, business and nonprofit officials that could bring a new child care center to Chenango County.
Although talks of opening a new countywide child care center are in the very preliminary stages, the need for a center wasn’t contested during an informational meeting held at the Family Enrichment Center, 21 S. Broad St., on Thursday. The meeting, which featured a round table discussion among local not-for-profit leaders as well as business representatives from some of the county’s largest employers, presented the social and economic benefits of early childhood care, and the financial and logistical barriers that stand in the way.
According to data from FEN, cost per child at a child care center would likely top $190 per week. For toddlers, that price drops slightly to $180 per week, and about $175 per week for infants. Such high figures - combined with increasing expenses to maintain a facility, a lack of funding, increased state regulations, and tough local economic conditions - led to the closing of The Children’s Center in June of 2011, and remains a major deciding factor in opening another child care center in the near future, explained FEN Executive Director Darrell Newvine.
“The only way this can work is if it is through a combination of resources,” he said. “If there’s not a combined effort between parents, agencies, and businesses, it just won’t work,” he added. “But if there is an interest, then we can move forward.”
Should FEN find there is interest in proceeding, particularly among local employers, then it can apply for grant funding for $113,304 to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) via the Southern Tier East Regional Planning Development Board. Grant funding would cover classroom and playground setups for preschoolers, toddlers and infants. It would also help with start-up and first two weeks salary of 12 teachers and one site director. The outcome, according to FEN, would be an increased number of children entering grade school who are “ready to learn,” as well as an increased number of jobs for working families retained because of available childcare.
Additional funding might also be available through other state-funded resources, according to Jennifer Tavares, economic development director for the Development Chenango Corporation. Moreover, Chenango United Way Director Elizabeth Monaco said nonprofit organizations like the United Way might kick-in other funding because a child care center would align with the missions of the organization.
Newvine also pointed out the need to pay ongoing costs like routine facility maintenance, salaries, school supplies, and mandated staff training to keep a center open. He said $190 per week just isn’t enough to cover those expenses. “That cost only covers the cost of employees,” he noted. “If this were profitable, if there was money to be made, somebody would already be doing it.”
Newvine also cited a recent push by Governor Andrew Cuomo to make pre-kindergarten mandatory statewide, which could change the face of early childhood education and put additional strain on a child care center further down the road.
“It’s not just about child care anymore,” he said. “It’s about education.”
Area businesses that were represented at the meeting were encouraged to survey employees working every shift, and consider how many employees have been lost because of the lack of child care.
Pending interest from the community and from local employers, the Family Enrichment Network must submit an ARC grant application by July 8. It could take as long as 15 months from the start of the project before doors open on a new child care center, Newvine said.
“This has to be a long-term commitment because it takes a tremendous amount of effort,” he added.