• Julian Cavazos •
• Originally published April 28, 2010 at 7:12 p.m., updated April 28, 2010 at 11:05 p.m.

• Proposed changes to day cares.pdf

• WHERE THE MEASURE STANDS

  The proposal is now at the point where the public can send comments and economic concerns to msc@dfps.state.tx.us until July 12.
  
  

  After that, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Council will make a ...

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WHERE THE MEASURE STANDS

The proposal is now at the point where the public can send comments and economic concerns to msc@dfps.state.tx.us until July 12.



After that, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Council will make a final recommendation to the Health and Human Services Commission for it to be adopted.

It is expected to go into effect Dec. 1, but day cares will be given until Dec. 1, 2012 to comply.

Joanna Edwards has been taking her 3-year-old son, Joseph, to A+ Kidz Care in Victoria since infancy.

She likes how the caregivers have a variety of activities for him to do and trusts them to care for him while she's at work, she said.

"For his age group and the number of teachers per kid, I've never felt like he wasn't safe with the number of teachers he's had," Edwards said.

Her 9-year-old son, Julian, who goes there after school, has gone there since he was 2.

But after hearing about a new proposal announced April 20 by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, she may no longer be able to afford day care for both sons.

A new proposal

The agency, which regulates the policies, licensing standards and inspections for day cares in Texas, has proposed to lower the ratio of children per caregiver at day cares.

The new ratio is expected to go into effect statewide on Dec. 1, but will not be enforced until Dec. 1, 2012 to give day cares time to comply with the new standards.

"It was important to reduce the group sizes and caregivers," said Patrick Crimmins, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services media manager. "It's better for the children if you have more supervision. It's better for the daycare employees. It's safer."

Day Care operators said this may cause them to raise their rates so they can hire more providers.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has also proposed to minimize the amount of daily video, computer and television time to no more than two hours.

In addition, the state agency proposes requiring a day care director to be onsite during operating hours at least 75 percent of the time, which is 30 hours.

The proposed change came as a response to surveys sent to day care center operators around the state, 75 percent of who said they were already complying with the lower ratios, Crimmins said.

"We don't think we're getting ahead of the industry," Crimmins said. "The industry appears to be already there."

Less children, more care

During the day, A+ has about 90 children and about 25 after-schoolers. There are 18 caregivers, said Olga Arce, an office worker.

Having fewer children per caregiver will make it easier for caregivers to do their job, Arce said.

"I actually think it's a good idea," Arce said. "It takes a lot to take care of a child and of course, parents want the best care they could possibly get, and that's what we want to give. Sometimes it's hard to give that care."

The children will get more of a one-on-one interaction with providers, said mother Kaye Dobecka.

"I think they should," said Dobecka, who brings her 2-year-old son, Shepard, to A+. "I promise you, looking after one is hard enough alone as a parent, and having to look after other children and not having eyes in the back of your head."

Workers at Bearly Beginning Day Care Center in Victoria also think it's a good idea.

"It's always a lot better when you have less children to care for for one caregiver," said Maribel Alkek, director. "It's just less to work with, especially toddlers. They're real active."

Right now, Bearly Beginning has about 147 children enrolled, and about 18 caregivers.

For smaller day cares like Learning Tree in Yoakum, the new ratios won't make a big difference, said Joy Traynhm, who has owned the center for 23 years.

Learning Tree's eight caregivers take care of about 40 children during the day and about 23 children after school on a regular basis, she said.

"That's hardly anything at all, as far as lowering it," Traynhm said. "This reduction will help the larger centers."

Raising the Rates

Day care operators admit they'd have to raise their rates to hire more providers to comply with the lower ratios per caregiver.

Bearly Beginning expects to hire more staff, Alkek said.

"Because we have such a high enrollment, we would have to hire more caregivers because there's going to be less children per class," Alkek said.

A+ also expects their rates to increase.

"That's something parents will have to understand," said Kathy Patton, A+ director. "It's in the best interest of the children in having lower child-staff ratios."

Financially, that has Edwards worried. At A+ right now, it costs $65 a week to care for school-aged children like Julian after school.

On top of that, it's $105 a week for full-time care for 3-year-olds like Joseph.

If rates increase, that might put more strain on her bank account.

"If it's going to affect our rates, then it's going to be hard," Edwards said. "I would probably have to find a way for someone to take care of one ... My other one comes here after school, so I'd have to find somebody to pick him up."

Rosa Sauceda, who picks up her grandchild from A+, said it's hard for a single parent, like her son, to afford day care.

"A lot of parents can't afford it," Sauceda said. "I know because I'm the grandmother. It would be too hard for single parents. Very hard."

Other parents, like Christin Robles, are fine with the day care raising their rates.

Robles also has two sons, Connor Robles, 2, and Collin Robles, 4, who attend A+.

"Just as long as they're watched the right way," she said. " I don't expect them to watch 11 kids at one time."

Hiring more providers for these children can be a positive thing, Robles said.

"That'll give more job opportunities for people," she said. "With the economy right now, we definitely need more jobs."

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