Salt Lake Tribune | 1996-01-29 | Page 4

Ad The Salt Lake Tribune UTAH/NATION Monday, January29, 1996 Child Care: Who’s Minding Licensed child-care providers are monitored bythe state, but inspectors stress that parents Our Babies? of their children’scare. University of Utah Professor Cheryl Wright and Janna Forsgren, a training specialist with the Office of Licensing, recommend that parents ask about policy and procedures, and make several unannounced visits Theyalso suggest asking the mit and south Davis counties. deals with frantic parents every day While the market is tight everywhere families can spend months on waiting lists — Bray east side and downtown are the worst. Onerecent check revealed there were no says “We get parents on the behavior? What is Patrice Spiegel. policy analyst for Utah Children. ‘‘Everybodyis in a bind fromthe provider to the parents. Thefirst placeto start is by seeing there is a need and that most child-care providers are profess the adult's tone of voice? @How muchtelevision do @ Howlong have providers sity area, 84108 It's a huge problem,” itive WAre there enough equipment and toys? MaAre nutritious meals served? Dochildren havetime out- class they attended? doors? — By Lili Wright are looking to corporate America for answers, hoping that businesses will open day-carefacilities or establish partnerships with pri vate centers. Y y than 1 percent of Utah day centers receive sponsorship from businesses. Churches are another option Despite its hundreds of and pro-family mes. phone at least once a week in tears, saying they have exhausted all resources in their neighbor- sage, The Church of Jesus Christ “Thereis a crisis larger than welfare or health care. It’s hood. They arefrustrated and ex- hausted. It’s a bad situation The licensed-care shortage is just part of the problem. With of Latter-day Saints offers no child care the future of children and child care. Who is taking care Ultimately, the situation may of our babies?”’ center infant care ranging from get worse before it gets better Congress may cut back the $20 million in federal aid that Utah receives to subsidize daycare for low-income families. Federal funds fueling the Office of Child care mayalso becut Here in Utah, despite politicians’ claims to put families fir day care remains alowfinancial WENDY GAUDIOSO. Former owner of infant-care center $67 to $120 weekly, day care can seriously eat into family earnings. Low-incomefamilies, on average. spend20 percent of their income on child care. Hin Graham The Associated Press A SWATteam officer escorts millionaire John E. du Pont to a police station after his arrest Sundayin Newtown Square, Pa ee “While I have no idea Du Pont Comes Out From the Cold why John committed this senseless and brutal killing of my husband, 1 amconfident that the police and authorities will conduct a thorough investigation... 7” @ Continued trom A-1 handcuffs and lifted him cording to wrestlers, acquaint ances and relatives They said his increasingly er ratic behavior included drug and a ‘ohol abuse and a penchant for The capture ended a standoff hat police said began Friday af ternoon with du Pont Dave Schultz, a wrestler living on du Pont’s estate carrying weapons on his estate After ending cor Police said Du Pont pulled up in his silver Lincoln Town Car and as Schultz was Saturday. stand police ing outside his home on the estate alkin ar ough his mansion —a replica « mes Madison's Mont grounds, where i wife. n\ ma — at midnight Officers cut off du Pont’s heat ay night b' ecided to keep other utilities connected and re: jected the idea of attacking while du Pont slept in hopes the situa he lived with } Nancy. and their two chil dren Nancy Schultz read care. If I became pregnant again. not your own: There are diapers I would quickly put myfetus on a to be changed. constant feedings and vigilance, comforting crying waiting list $3,000. Giventhe slimprofit margins, it Job Doesn’t Pay: Given the day-care shortfall, it seems centers should be popping uplike ba- Support. child care just is easy to see why somecenters cut corners. Whetherit is more television or fewer hugs, some children don't receive the emo- The major cost is labor. Even tional, intellectual or social instruction to prepare them for ing programs. Perhaps. this is because, as babies who can't explain what's wrong The bottom line is that caring for children is probably the hard short Statement to reporters r the standoff ended, surrounded by the couple's 9-vear-old son, Alex tion could end peacefully, world and the most undervalued and underappreciated [because] Lt. Lee checked for basic health and safety requirements, from criminal background checks to first-aid certification Even licensed homes are visited only once a year, unless complaints are received. But working parents often are too frazzled to remain vigilant about their children’s care. Some don't know what questions to ask providers Are the children taught to share and play with others? Do they have time outdoors? served for lunch? What is care for her 2-year-old has been challenge. Jacob and her husband nied that out coach and mentor. but a devoted time andsharechild care, passing off their child like a humanbaton and loving father to our children and husband to me for the past 14 not tricked into going out of the house Mallon said. “It was an extremel trying and diffi years cult situation er system, Mallon repeatedly deHe She refused to discuss the cir While I have no idea why John committe d this senseless and bru al ng of my husband, ce tried to lure him was of other offers — from Vietnam vets. friends and ps relatives, hologists — for help, in honorary member of the police foree. even teaching marksman: ship to officers at higgh-tech in door shooting ran; he later dis assembled Hunter denied the connection \ bodygu i ar during po lice said he wilnot charged His name has not beer ment's decision immedia From the beginning. police in sisted on negotiating with him in d of attacking fo r own Pont’s p with weapons approaches Olympic level marksmanship and an extensive arsenal that at one time incl ided an personnel carrier Negotiations that Saturday broke Pont’s 2) (484-2273) GF. MeGINND.C. PALMER GRADUATE started early off at 9 p.m. at du Pont's request f resumedabout 9:30 a.m. Sunda’ The standoff capped longtime Slide into despair for du Pont. a a comeback Games At for ate USA Wrestling, a Fox impact emotionally,” says Pat Kreher, director of the Office of Licensing. “Certainly in their readiness for school, theirability to concentrate andformrelationshipsandpay attention. The ramifications are endless. 39 percent turnover rate annu- r= i THEULTIMATEHOME ) ENTERTAINMENTIS SATELLITE TV! I YOU CAN Complete Satellite System for HAVE A $ ! Payment includes 5 HBO channels plus 20 channel basic pack and over 150 free channels. 39 Per Month! FREE INSTALLATION! A ‘350 VALUE! with this ad SWCEMMCm Ola 1816 So. 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This makes it hard for children to build secure attachments that are essential to development he majority of child-care workers earn below the poverty level andreceive no sick leave or Seminar for Teens and catcher team more than $300 week and contributed $500,000 a year to tomorrow's in somecases. problem adult Considerthesestatistics @ Utahcenter directors report Best View” HOW TO STUDY Several other the Only 8 percent of day-care velopment degrees ONLY 1116 East 3300 South/8761 S. Highland Drive wrestlers also liveea on the estate coaches to school But by the timechildren reach the classroom, the damage maybe done, child advocates warn. To day's neglected baby can become J] FUte View Tvs # trademark of General Instrument Corporation of Deleware’ 14,000. wrestlers Adds Wright. the U. professor ‘It’s almost like we don’t want to deal with childrenbefore theyget CHIROPRACTIC FIRST summer Du Pont paid the care programspecialist. “People don't wantto see thatit is happening all aroundthem. Children are in child care.” 50° 4Ui-CARE against attacking. du I don't Utah is in denial — denying the fact that 63 percent of Utah moth ers work ‘It is an invisible system.” says Rasmussen, an Office of Child- workers haveearly-childhood-de- CALL Training Center while training for shoo! Du CASH pic gold medal in 1984, worked as at LOW DA DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE Contact with our department or vice versa, that was several ral years ago.” he said. “We are professional police officers Schultz. 36, who won an Olym: coach ers. plumberand garbage collector — keep the overhead low. Lynette Rasmussen maintains workers who attract andretain qualified work- While she has a master’s degree pay myself a salary. That is the reason I am surviving. It’s tough toys and The state also spends roughly $100,000 on theOfficeof Childcare and $15,000 fortrain Few Qualified Workers: Anotherproblemis that centers cannot pay high enoughsalaries to in early-childhood development Hippler says the job turned her info an electrician, accountant work, but the reward is to see meager ing day care. according to Cathic Pappas, with the Office of Family drop-in centers. opened an infant-care facility across the street from herpreschool, Salt La City’s Early Childhood Education Center everything I can possibly can to There are rooms with cent of the total state budget — only $8 million is spent subsidiz troduced in the Legislature this session to require licensing for Karen Hippler knows the struggle. Two anda half years ago, she IF YOU HAVEN'T TRIED CHIROPRACTIC, YOU HAVEN'T TRIE! D EVERYTHING played any role in the depart a y: 1) only $2,000 annually whatever it takes to save a few dollars. She barters with parents. swapping child carefor services. Wereit not for her preschool where the mortgage is paid and ratios are higher, she could not keep her doors open It's tough,” says Hippler. “I do school. and higher education — 46 per- don’t know toddlers’ names Andit gets worse. In 1994, a 3year-old boy wandered awayfrom an unlicensed drop-in center in South Jordan. He drowned in a nearby canal, A bill has been in- rent. Caring for children at home is no guarantee of big bucks. The average home care-giver nets square-foot Foxcatcher National sion. about a mile home. Day Nursery closed. so she opted to split a nanny with a friend Hunter said In the 1970s. du Pont served as lice that at one point. du Pont pointed the 38 aliber revolver at her, the affidavit 4 She was frantic when the Avenues \ retired FBI negotiator who investigation and bring him to justice,” she said According to an affidavit. Nan: third and final shot into her hu: band’s body after he already had both work three-quarters of the lives in the area joined the negoti onfident that the police and au thorities will conduct a thorough fallento the ground. She told po Lucy Jacobsays finding quality ations but police rejected dozens I am ey Schultz saw du Pont fire the $4.72 an hour, the state mandated 1-to-4 adult-to-child ratio keeps expenses high. Then come equipment, utilities, insurance and someof these arrangements offer top-notchcare, parents don't have the security that the state has pected loss,” she said. “He was not only a world-class athle lestions though centers pay on average women have done it for so long Hunter said Although negotiators encour aged du Pont to try to fix his boil ander, 6-year-old daughter. Dan. jelle. and other family members family is dey astated and yy Dave's brutal, unex: cumstances of the case or answer But est and most important job in the dren in unlicensed homes. While Feb. 1 hearing priority. While lawmakers pump more than $2 billion into public care for multiple babies who are Many parents place their chil- Widowof the slain wrestler “Day-care hoppers” is the term Hippler has coined for parents who jumpfromfacilityto facility leaving a trail of debts. Hippler has list of 12 parents who owe I dream about at night, is child Professor Cheryl Wright jailed without bond pending a opened fire workers andtreated worse than parking-enforcement workers Professionals sayit is stressful to for free,” says University of Utah NANCY SCHULTZ, Du Pont wos arraigned on mur der and weapons charg then samebalancing act It’s the topic,” says Jacob. “1 never would have expected that the big dramaof mylife, the thing 3 by the out of the van those bright, shiny faces.” Happybabies don’t meanthat parents pay their bills, though Herfriends are caught in the Meanwhile, day-care employ- ees are paid less than fast-food als, not babysitters.” Alternative Solutions? Some children watch? is therateof staff turnover? @ What is the providers’ educational background? Whatis the last conference, training or workers well without pricing themselves out of most parents’ budgets “It’s this horrible cycle,” says the children seem happy? If children are overly aggressive. that is often a sign that children are bored MHoware children disciplined? Striking childrenis illega!. Do teachers encourage pos- been caring for children? What codes 84111 and 84115. There weren t any in Avenues ZIP codes 84101 or 84102. or at the univer- The bottomline: Centers cannot charge enough to pay playing with the children? Do following questions infant openings in downtown ZIP Bray. @ What is the adult-to-child ratio? @ Whatis the qualityof interaction? Is the adult on the floor must be the primary overseers Continued from A-1 says Salt Lake City’s holiday pay. Only 2 percent have paid health insurance. Nationally child-care workers are the second most unstable work-force group after gas-station attendants Tips to Oversee Child Care ent, but now I'mbetter. I learned “was already a good stuc a lot of ways to memorize and the planner got me orga nized! 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