60 likes | 122 Views
The Future of Campus Childcare. National Situation. “There is no shortage of child care in an absolute numerical sense” (Financing Child Care: Analysis and Recommendations, 1996). What Are the Gaps Nationally?. “There is consistent evidence of a relatively low supply of care: For infants,
E N D
National Situation • “There is no shortage of child care in an absolute numerical sense” • (Financing Child Care: Analysis and Recommendations, 1996)
What Are the Gaps Nationally? • “There is consistent evidence of a relatively low supply of care: • For infants, • For school-age children, • For children with disabilities and special health care needs… • For parents with unconventional or shifting work hours. • “These scarcities exacerbate other barriers that low-income families experience in matching type of care used with type of care that best meets their needs.” • (National Academy of Sciences, 1995)
Campus Situation • The Waisman Center offers care for children with special needs • The Child Care Tuition Assistance Program addresses the needs of low-income students (and now classified staff!) • Center-based childcare for infants and toddlers is scarce: • Only about 1/3 of accredited childcare centers provide care for infants younger than about 11 months of age • The UW Hospital helped to establish a new childcare center, Great Beginnings, but there is a long waiting list for infant care there • Parents whose children take care of themselves after school are significantly less satisfied than other faculty members
Campus Situation • There is not much capacity for early morning or evening care: • Needed by physicians, laboratory scientists, students, and others • Only 20-25% of accredited childcare centers start before 7:00 • None provide care after 6:00! • There is little capacity for emergency/backup/drop-in care or sick childcare service: • For when childcare arrangements fall through • (Usual childcare provider is unavailable, or child gets sick) • Needed by employees who might lose jobs: • Also by people whose skills are urgently needed (transplant surgeons)
Goal • Scarce campus resources should be targeted to areas of greatest need!