Affordable childcare on campus

0
''

By Chistina Lieffring


The Hiersteiner Child Development Center is the large, white house-like building next to the barn of the Sustain­ability Center. Inside, children’s artwork plasters the walls and the rooms are col­orfully decorated to fit their names: “Blue Lagoon”, “Bamboo Forest” and “African Kingdom”.

But the HCDC is not all fluff and fun. It has been accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children since 1993 and uses the High­Scope Early Childhood Curriculum for preschool children and infants. Claire Ehney, HCDC’s Manager, said HCDC uses HighScope because it is a research-based curriculum.

“[Researchers] followed preschool children for as long as 40 years to see how they did based on their preschool years,” said Ehney. “And they came out having better jobs, owning homes a lot of things like that.”

Ehney and her staff not only aim to provide quality care, but to make it af­fordable as well.

“We are always looking for grants that might help students,” said Ehney.

One such grant is available through the HCDC Child Care Alumni Associa­tion for students with proof of financial need. The deadline for applications in fall semester has passed, but students can apply again at the beginning of winter semester. HCDC also accepts childcare subsidies provided through the Kansas Department for Children and Families.

HCDC also has different pay scales for JCCC students, faculty/staff and the gen­eral public and provides flexible schedul­ing. Parents can enroll their children for half-days (mornings or afternoons) or full days, and can choose either Monday through Friday, Mon/Wed/Fri or Tues/ Thurs. Ehney said that if parents are con­cerned about scheduling, to talk with HCDC’s staff.

“Its worth a call to try to talk with us to see, you know, can we work something out,” said Ehney.
According to a study published by ChildCare Aware, a national childcare in­formation hub, only 4% of Kansas child­care centers are nationally accredited and the average yearly cost for an infant is $10,518. By those metrics, HCDC is com­petitive. However, this does not include resources such as Head Start, which pro­vides childcare for families earning at the federal poverty level. Parents can also compare childcare providers through ChildCare Aware’s website for eastern Kansas and Western Missouri to find the care that fits their needs.

For more information on HCDC: http://www.jccc.edu/childcare/

For the Kansas Department for Chil­dren and Families: http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Child_Care/Child-care-and-early-education.aspx

Head Start Centers in Johnson County: https://www.ksheadstart.org/locations

To search childcare providers in the Kansas City area: http://www.thefamilycon­servancy.org/resources/parenting-resources/resources-and-links/item/390

Contact Chistina Lieffring, news editor, clieffri@jccc.edu

''

NO COMMENTS

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.