Meeting set to discuss child care options needed in Newton

May 05--The Newton Development Corporation (NDC) has been hearing from several employers that some of their employees can't find child care in Newton.

NDC, Child Care Resource & Referral of Central Iowa, along with Iowa State University Extension Outreach Jasper County (Early Care & Education) will be holding a collaborative child care focus group meeting from 9 to 10:30 a.m.May 22 at the Newton DMACC Campus, Room 210. Brenda O'Halloran from CCR&R will lead the discussion. She will share Jasper County Data and CCR&R Data.

"We want to hear from our employers and also from our child care providers," said Frank Liebl, executive director of NDC.

If you are a child care provider and are unable to attend the meeting, reach out to your local Child Care Resource & Referral representative at 515-401-4957 or email bohalloran@orchardplace.org or ISU Extension & Outreach Early Care & Education program at 641-792-5437 or email campc@iastate.edu with questions and concerns prior to the meeting.

NDC is looking for answers to several questions including:

-- What challenges do you face as a provider in meeting the needs of families?

-- What are you hearing from parents and what are they asking for? (overnight care, extended hour care, lower rates, needing a provider to accept DHS child care assistance payments, etc;

-- Are you turning prospective families away because you're full? If so, how often are you getting calls?

-- What resources would be helpful to have available for providers, families, and children?

"Some employers are saying they can't fill second and third shifts because employees can't find extended, overnight and week-end daycare," Liebl said.

Invitations went out to Newton employers, day care providers and in-home providers. RSVP by May 18 to Tanya Michener at tanyam.ndc@gmail.com or by calling NDC at 641-787-8210.

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