Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 22, 1993 TAG: 9310230235
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV9 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: VICTORIA CARROLL CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
But there is help.
Many parents start at the Virginia Tech Resource and Referral Service on Church Street in Blacksburg.
For a fee of $5-$20, depending on the number of children and the family's income, the office provides lists of licensed child care providers, sample questions for interviewing providers and sample contracts.
Staffers also answer questions about the child care options available to parents in the New River Valley, including in-home care, child care in a provider's home, care at a center, and baby-sitting services.
``The first thing I tell parents is to go with their gut feeling... . If you have a bad feeling when you walk in the door, turn around and leave,'' says Director Ann Francis, who also serves on the Child Care Regulatory Oversight Committee of the Virginia Department of Social Services.
Following are some questions parents should ask:
How many children are currently in care?
What are their ages?
How many are full time?
How long has the provider been in child care?
What meals and snacks are provided?
What is a typical day like?
Parents also need to ask about fees. Francis says New River Valley child care providers are charging an average $65-$75 a week for full time day care, more for infants.
Francis cautions parents to consider more than cost.
And she advises parents to invest time in choosing their child care.
``I've had some parents tell me it's like another full-time job. You have to call the people, you have to see them and interview them,'' she says, ``Some people spend months on it.''
by CNB