Starting a Child Day Care Business

Child day care has become an important issue in Washington County, Ohio. The percentage of working mothers with preschool children grew from 12.6% in 1960 to 44.2% in 1988. An estimated 53% of the mothers of school-age children were employed in 1988. In 1988, 14 day care centers served 837 youngsters, up from eight centers in 1971. Yet, 199 children remained on waiting lists. There were 1,643 children under age 11 receiving public assistance and an estimated 1,334 under age eight in low-income working families. Yet, only 122 low-income children received financial aid for child care so parents could work.

As part of issues programming, the Ohio Cooperative Extension Service conducted a two-day seminar entitled, "How to Start a Child Day Care Business." In relation to the "Family and Economic Well-Being" National Initiative, Extension can help establish community-based support networks to address parenting needs, including child care.

One of the first seminars conducted in the state was attended by 60 participants from throughout Ohio (plus two from Pennsylvania) and ran for two consecutive evenings. The seminar drew together state and local resource people for various presentations about the business of child day care. The program was widely advertised. A $20 registration fee funded the program costs of meeting room rental, refreshments, and an extensive packet of printed program materials.

Representatives from the Department of Human Services (the child care licensing agency in the state of Ohio) talked about "Rules and Regulations." Specifics were presented on how to meet the physical requirements to receive a child day care provider's license, how to qualify, and who to contact. A speaker from the Ohio Department of Development shared information about the types of financial help potential child care providers may qualify for. The speaker distributed packets containing information about taxes, licenses, permits, bookkeeping, and other legal forms that the businessowners would be expected to complete.

The small business management instructor from the local Career Center taught the prospective entrepreneurs the principles of business management and how to determine costs to become a profitable business. A local attorney discussed liability insurance for child care providers, along with potential carriers and expected costs. Passing a health inspection to provide meals and snacks for children was presented by a representative of the Washington County Health Department. Printed materials from the local building codes office, the development office, and the fire department were distributed to make sure everyone understood the remaining criteria that had to be met. The program concluded with a panel discussion by current child care businessowners, with the "hands-on experiences," answering questions from the audience.

The evaluations of the program were positive. Ninety-three percent of the participants said they were pleased with the program, they'd learned a great deal about the business, and the handout materials were extremely useful. Eighty-seven percent said they obtained information they could apply and use, and they'd learned about resource materials. Seventy-five percent of the participants reported improving planning skills and judgment. Sixty-eight percent said their questions had been answered and they'd made contacts with resource people. Fifty percent gained new ideas, insight, and support from others and improved their decision-making skills. Extension showed that it could collaborate with many other agencies to provide a program on an issue of wide public concern.