Simplifying the Hunt for Child Care

Becker County Human Services has just launched a new initiative that will essentially pair up parents in need of childcare with licensed childcare providers who actually have openings. Childcare providers leave their basic information and what kind of openings they have.

The problem has been that parents will get these lists of around 100 licensed daycare providers in the county, and it’s two pages of addresses and phone numbers, but no way of knowing which ones have openings, from there, parents would begin the overwhelming process of calling all of those numbers in search of openings. 

And then child care providers, who are busy trying to care for children, are having to answer all these calls, and they try to help the parents any way they can, but they don’t always know who has openings either. One of the challenges that child care owners face is to provide affordable child care services to parents. If they can implement latest tools and technology for running their business like for example a child care management software for managing the activities, they can cut down on staff costs, and provide exemplary service to parents.

“Parents will tell you they’ve called 60 providers and no one has openings,” said Torma, who says they’ll ask her what they’re supposed to do. “I tell them it’s hard, and you need to look as soon as you know you’re expecting.” Torma says there are some childcare providers who won’t take babies and toddlers because of all the rules and regulations, which creates even more of a crunch.“I have a waiting list — sometimes I’m full with infants and toddlers for a year,” said Torma.

This new initiative can’t do anything to address the childcare crunch, but it will at least make it less frustrating by taking that long list and whittling it down to a much shorter list of actual options.The way it works is, Becker County has set up a line where both parents and child care providers can call to input their needs.

Parents leave their names, numbers, town or area they’re looking for, number of children and ages.“It’s a win-win situation,” said Donna Richjels, social services supervisor for the family and children’s unit. “We want to support parents to be able to work and support their families, and with modern-day technology, this is one way we could make it easier.”

In an attempt to generate more options for parents, Richjels also says Becker County is waiving childcare licensing fees for childcare providers who are willing to provide “odd” hours, like overnight, as well as providers willing to care for special needs children.