Child care counts honor roll for Vermont Employers: Meeting the need in southwestern Vermont

Vermont Business Magazine, Feb 01, 1999

Child Care Counts. It is a simple statement with profound implications. In early December 1998, The Vermont Country Store cosponsored a breakfast, with The Childcare Fund of Vermont, to help bring awareness to the importance of quality child care. It was only the second meeting of its kind in the state. Approximately 20 business people, community leaders and child care providers gathered to discuss ways in which a coordinated effort by the group could improve the delivery of child care in southwestern Vermont.

Why did the meeting take place? What issues were discussed and what will the outcome be?

The meeting came from a growing concern that child care needs in the area were not being met. Some members of the group were shocked to learn that a registered day care provider is only required to have six hours of training while, for example, a cosmetologist is required to have 200 hours of training. Business owners are concerned they are not able to hire qualified people because of the shortage of affordable, quality care. Day care providers face increasing demand with either level or declining funding. In a rural state, where two incomes is the norm, the need for affordable, quality child care is great.

The group was presented with information on the critical importance of a child's first three years and their ability to learn later in life. Many Vermont children are spending more than 50 hours a week in child care. Most of their waking hours are spent in the care of someone other than their parents. The quality of that care is a critical factor in determining a child's readiness for school.

What are some of the solutions? Communities need to be made aware of the growing need for quality child care. Businesses and community organizations need to provide information on child care services in the towns and villages. There needs to be greater access to top notch child care providers. Day care centers and home providers need better trained and better paid staff. Businesses must become more family friendly.

Ten years ago The Vermont Country Store was faced with a severe shortage of qualified applicants at all levels in the business. We realized if we wanted to grow, remain competitive, and stay in Vermont, we needed to be more responsive to the needs of working parents.

The first thing we did was to create a flextime category of employment. This requires a minimum of 16-hours per week. A flex-time employee is eligible for benefits, including health insurance, on a pro-rata basis. Many people, who would not have considered full-time employment because of a desire td spend more time with their children, were willing to consider this less than full-time status.

Our next project was to determine the child care needs of our employees. We began discussions of an on-site center in our Manchester location. We began talking to our working parents and discovered an on-site center was not high on their list of priorities. Ranked in order, their needs were for.

On-site care barely made the list. We soon implemented a Dependent Care Assistance Plan that pays up to $3,000 per year, per employee for child or elder care. Married couples who pre both in our employ can reimbursed up to $5,000. The choice of provider is left to the individual. We help to make safe, quality care affordable. We know this plan is effective as both a recruitment and retention policy.

In recent years we have expanded our heath insurance to include pre-paid, no deductible primary care medical coverage and a similar plan for mental health. Both plans are major factors in our very low rate of employee turnover.

Family friendly communities and businesses are not only good for families. This kind of environment makes it possible for business to thrive as well. We know when we serve our employees well, they in turn serve our customers well. Businesses today need every competitive advantage to succeed in the highly competitive global marketplace. Fathers and mothers who know their children are in a safe nurturing environment can focus on the task at hand in the workplace. It is truly a win-win situation.

Helping parents to help their children must be a local as well as a national priority. Our communities, our state, and our country must nurture the next generation. If the next generation does not reach its full potential, our country can never reach its own. This is a perfect opportunity to act locally while thinking globally. While we may not yet know what significant positive impact our children will have in this world, we know we can help them begin their journey on very solid footing.