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March 2007
Childcare Impact Area |
| Your Gift in Action is a monthly update from the Sioux Empire United Way. The newsletter demonstrates how donor contributions work throughout the year. Each month focuses on a different community need/issue addressed by United Way and our volunteers. |
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Every dollar truly matters and makes a difference in a life. Here's how your contribution has been working...
- In February over 1000 children were able to
attend quality, safe, and affordable childcare. The children are
provided with a warm, nurturing environment and their parents are able to
work and maintain financial stability, knowing their children are being
taken care of.
- 197 parents received personalized referrals
for quality childcare centers through the Childcare HELP!Line in February.
These referrals can be made based on location, cost, size, and other options
that provides parents different options when choosing a childcare center for
their family.
- Thanks to the Wee Care program, the parents
of 77 children were able to continue working and maintain their source of
income last month. The program provides safe and friendly childcare to
children who are too ill to attend school or daycare.
- Through the support of the Teen Parent
program, 19 children attended quality childcare in February, enabling their
parents to continue their education and learn more about their roles as
parents.
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Agencies & Programs
HELP!Line Center
Childcare HELP!Line
Southeast Technical Institute
Scarbrough Center
United Day
Care
Volunteers of America
Child Care & Family Literacy
Circle of Hope Day Care
Teen Parent Program
Parent Child Learning Center
Avera McKennan Hospital
Wee Care
YWCA
Childcare
Youth Enrichment Services
Kinder Prep/Tots
Summer Care
For more information about childcare programs or to volunteer call the HELP!Line Center at 211 (or 605-339-4357) or visit http://www.helplinecenter.org/ |
Need for Childcare Programs
Low-income families pay 14-18% of their income
for childcare.
There are 6300 families in Minnehaha and Lincoln Counties with children under
the age of six.
South Dakota leads the nation in the percentage
of women in the workforce who have children younger than six at 73%.
In South Dakota 47% of children are in
paid child care, this is nearly twice the national average. |
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Every dollar invested in quality early care and
education saves taxpayers an average of $7.
The most formative years for a child are birth to
six years, when most children are in a child care setting for 50 hours a week of
30% of their lives.
Research shows quality education improves
emotional stability, academic success and behavior, which can lower crime and
the cost of social services.
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What Matters...
Mary, a single mother of three, was distraught
when her husband left after months of trying to deal with a car accident that
left their eight year old in a wheelchair. Previously a stay-at-home mother,
Mary was now faced with supporting the family financially and emotionally.
“It’s amazing how quickly life can change,” said Mary. “One minute I was a stay
at home mom and the next minute I was frantically looking for a job and
childcare … I didn’t know where to go!”
Things started looking brighter when she secured her job at a local restaurant,
but when she started looking for care for her children she began to feel
hopeless once again.
“I called a countless number of providers … but no one could keep my kids until
7:30pm,"explained Mary. “Then one provider mentioned the Childcare HELP!Line.
It was the best thing she could have done for me.”
Mary was able to talk with a Child Care Specialist about her frustrations. The
staff person explained that they can search by proximity to her home, hours the
provider is operating, willingness to work with children with disabilities, and
according to other preferences from the 344 providers listed with their agency.
“Just talking with the Childcare HELP!Line put me at ease. I knew there were
options for my kids,” Mary said with a smile.
Thanks to the Sioux Empire United Way over 2000 families received childcare
referral information last year. The service gives parents piece of mind and
options to provide their children with the best care possible.
Because we know what matters.
And what matters
to Mary … “Every night my kids come home and tell me about the fun things they
did that day … I feel great knowing that I can keep working and they are getting
the quality care they need!”
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The Decision Makers
There are currently eight volunteers on the Childcare Impact Team. These individuals provide stewardship to United Way contributors while planning, setting priorities, distributing funds and developing collaborative community solutions. This team specifically addresses the needs
of families for high-quality and cost-effective early childhood learning
environments. |
