Child care services offered, parents underwhelmed

Editor's note: The story "Child care services offered, parents underwhelmed" by Alex LaCasse published in the Jan. 13, 2010 issue of The Spectator failed to meet the standards of fairness its staff strives to meet. Primarily, not all parties involved in the story were contacted to be interviewed. Instead, a university official was quoted speaking at a meeting, but it was not made clear that an interview was not conducted. Spectator editors failed to make that distinction. Other phrases and words pointed to a strong bias suggesting Seattle University should provide on-campus child care.

In an attempt to make finding child care easier for students and faculty, Seattle University has hired a nonprofit organization to aide in the process.

Child Care Resources, the non-profit hired by the university this academic year, is an organization that provides services for parents in finding safe and convenient child care centers in King County. Because of funding, lack of space and liability issues the university has been unable to provide an on-site child care facility much to the dismay of students and faculty.

"Unfortunately child care is very expensive, said Loretta Kennedy, family services coordinator for the organization. "Universities and other work places have had to make some really tough decisions which they have not always been happy with."

Tuesday, Kennedy and Heidi Prochnow, resource specialist for Child Care Resources, pitched the service to students and faculty in the first of several informational meetings to come.

Arlene Chavez, junior liberal studies major attended the meeting. Because she is unable to find child care close to or on campus, Chavez is forced to fit all her classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays to allow her to be with her two children— ages three and one—three days during the work week.

"I'm not excited about it because it's an outside resource," Chavez said. "There is nothing here on campus. If there was it would be so convenient—a one stop, helpful tool for both parents and students."

She added that not only would it help parents, but students interested in the field of child care would have an on campus resource available.

"I would rather pay by the hour at a facility run by people on campus than pay thousands of dollars for just three hours of care a week in an outside child care center," Chavez said. "This service is helpful, but it's not much of an excitement."

Child care centers in King County range in price from $100-300 on a weekly basis. This, coupled with waiting lists, make finding a center difficult. According to Kennedy, the organization's goal is to help in this process.

"The reason we engaged in Child Care Resources was to provide a service on a wide basis across the university," said Jerry Huffman, assistant vice president for Human Resources.

Kennedy said their services dramatically cut down on the time it takes for parents to find a service that worked best for them, plus it is free.

Child Care Resources will provide Seattle U students and faculty with online access to a database that includes up-to-date information on state accredited child care facilities. In addition to supplying a list of options, the organization will meet with parents individually and cut down on time spent searching. They also provide information for grants, scholarships and access to the department of social and human services for covering some costs of child care service. The organization also provides resources for other options like family child care and nanny services.

Tiffany Jasperson, professor of pediatrics in the College of Nursing, was with her two-month-old baby boy Micah at the meeting. She is set to go back to work Feb. 11 after a period of maternity leave. She is currently looking for child care.

"I think the program sounds great. I am really glad they are providing us with another opportunity," Jasperson said.

However, she said it would be more convenient if Seattle U were to have a facility on campus. "I think that most family friendly work places have child care centers. It would be nice if Seattle U were to have such a facility," Jasperson said. "There are more and more younger faculty at the university, and we are having babies."

Alex may be reached at alacasse@su-spectator.com.