Choosing child care

Important decision for parents

[FEB. 4, 2000]  For Chip and Stephanie Schwarzentraub of Lincoln, choosing a day care program for their 5-month-old daughter, Sloan, was far from easy. The Schwarzentraubs aren't the first, and won't be the last parents faced with the difficulties of making a child care decision. There is however, a licensing program, implemented by the Department of Children and Family Services, to ensure that quality care is provided to every child in day care.

"It's never easy," Chip Schwarzentraub said. "You always feel parents give the best care. But if you're in a situation where you have to have child care, you want to be comfortable with [a provider], and we are."

The Schwarzentraubs initially enrolled Sloan at a day care that was unlicensed, "but then we decided to switch," Schwarzentraub said.

One of the reasons is that parents who use a licensed facility can claim the expense on their income tax. "We're a young couple and we thought that was something we needed to take advantage of," Schwarzentraub added.

Once realizing there was a licensing system in place, the Schwarzentraubs consulted a friend who referred them to Marcia Bidwell, a licensed child care provider in Lincoln. From there they set up an interview with Bidwell, in the child care environment. Stephanie Schwarzentraub contends that they chose Bidwell because she seemed "agreeable and would do what my husband and I wanted. Then we signed a contract with her that let us lock in her rate and times."

[Chip and Stephanie Schwarzentraub seen here with their daughter Sloan, suggest visiting the day care provider’s environment unannounced to see what the facility is like.]

While not required by DCFS, Bidwell decided to create her own contract. "That's my policy. I write it all out so people know what to expect," she said.

According to DCFS in Springfield, there are stringent licensure requirements to operate a day care facility. In fact, the 50 page, Licensing Standards for Day Care Homes explicates everything from the maximum number of children who can be in a single home to proper disciplining and nutritional needs for each child.

Despite the criteria, Bidwell, who has been a DCFS approved provider for 16 years, said earning a license isn't all that difficult.

"It's not that hard—you just have to comply with DCFS," she said. "They go over the whole thing with you. It's real simple stuff, not hard at all."

When discussing the criteria Bidwell explains, "everybody has to have a physical for one thing. Then they make sure you have smoke detectors and your [outlets] have safety covers. You just fill in the paperwork; it's like applying for a job."

After the initial application a DCFS representative will make an appointment to come to the day care providers home. "For one thing," Bidwell adds, "DCFS makes sure you have enough space."

Bidwell, who currently cares for five children, said there are many benefits to being DCFS-approved. "People know they're not taking their child just anywhere. We also have access to the state's food program (for which they're partially reimbursed). Parents know their child is getting a balanced and nutritious meal."

The program benefits the provider in other ways too.

"We can advertise if we're licensed," she said. "Also, we can screen people just like they're screening us. I need to know if a child can adapt to the children I already have. They have to get along with me, too."

[Day care provider Marcia Bidwell, holding Elise Patton, is surrounded by from left to right: Derek Jacobs, Gage Vinson, Sloan Schwarzentruber.] 

Providers who earn their license get another bonus: their own support group, Community Child Care Connections. Newsletters are sent out and group meeting are held in order to provide a variety of activities which help generate new ideas for child care providers. In addition, there are programs to reimburse a child care provider for any additional training.

While Bidwell and others in the Logan County area are approved day care providers, those who are out of compliance are reported to a hotline. Any reported problems stay on the day care provider’s record for one year. This way Bidwell says, "they can know the integrity of a person."

In Logan County, approved providers aren't, however, parents' only option. Another choice for school-age children is School Age Child Care, which is administered by the Lincoln YMCA. The hours are from 2 to 6 p.m., and it is held in all five District 27 elementary schools plus West Lincoln-Broadwell School.

"We're not licensed because the school district is our governing body," said YMCA Executive Director Angie Peters. "That means we report to the school our participation numbers and how things are going."

Jan Schacht is the director of the program, which currently cares for an average of 108 children per day.

The goal of this program is to teach character development—caring, respect, honesty and responsibility. Peters says, "that's the national YMCA program. We also give them snacks, work on their homework, play games, read, play basketball, things like that."

In addition to this program is a before-school program held in the District 27 schools from 6:45 to 8:30 a.m. Chester-East Lincoln School, meanwhile, has its own after-school program, called Panther Camp.

[Ellen Shawgo]

[Natalie Jeckel - ed.]

Community ownership needed by EDC

[FEB. 3, 2000]  Lincoln, what do you want to be when you grow up?  That is the question that Mark Smith, the director of economic development for Lincoln and Logan County, is trying to help answer.  Smith is trying to help the residents of Logan County get to where they want to be and to make everything in county the best that it can be.   

The mission of the Logan County Economic Development Council is to enhance the economic climate and quality of life in Logan County by mobilizing the talents and energies of business enterprises, local governments and institutions to work in partnership to achieve growth and prosperity for businesses and job creation for Logan County citizens.  The governing board consists of a nine-member council made up of officials from the city, county, chamber of commerce and members at large.

Smith’s innovation has included facilitating a number of focus groups inside and outside of the city of Lincoln to gather recommendations and comments from residents and businesses about their desires for their county.  As part of his presentation Smith asks,  “What is good about your town?  What is not so good? What do you think we should do?”   Three more questions that he asks are, “Where have we been?  Where are we now? And, where will we be in the future?”

He also listed the suggestions that he heard at least twice and he will use this list to help formulate an economic plan or a vision for Logan County.  Smith said, “I will find the best way to allocate the city’s time, treasures and talents.”  Smith is not creating the vision but clarifying it, based on the desires of the residents.  “My job is to help Lincoln get to where it wants to be,” he commented.

Some of the recommendations are as follows: the need for more higher paying jobs, the removal of tax caps, more parks and open spaces, another 18-hole golf course and better building maintenance.  Improving streets and alley ways, enhancing the appearance of several small communities, adding more housing options, and larger conference and meeting facilities, along with working to develop a public lake, are at the top of the list.

Smith continued,  “I want all of the entities in the county--residents, the chamber of commerce, school districts, churches, businesses, industry and others--to take ownership in the future of Logan County.  But first they must identify what it is they want. The next step is to participate by asking, how can I help?  Any successful plan must be community owned.  It has to be a partnership.” 

He explained, “In the 1980s there were many negative changes in the economic landscape as a result of plant closures and job losses. We saw a lot of well-paying factory jobs leave our community.  Economic development is a long-term, day to day process that involves a lot of hard work.”

Marketing and promotion is a large part of his job, and Smith added, “Each time my telephone rings it increases the potential for success.  It may be a business that is looking for a town to relocate and maybe Lincoln will make their short list.”

’Tis the season to give
or…receive

[FEB. 2, 2000]  With W-2s flooding people’s mailboxes and only two months until the April 15 deadline—the tax season is officially upon us.  According to one Lincoln accountant, more people than ever will be using electronic filing to get a refund fast. 

  "Internal Revenue is pushing to have more people file electronically so we're offering it free to everybody," said Clarence Barney of H & R Block. "We're trying to get 85 percent of returns filed that way."

   Barney said other changes in the state tax laws are few this year.

   "There's $100 more child credit (from $400 to $500) and the earned income credit is a little higher," he said.

   Dale Meier of Meier Accounting and Tax Service agreed.  "There are very few changes and the new ones are minor," he said.

   While this tax season has been virtually uneventful, both men agreed that February is their busiest month.

   "The W-2s started coming this week and my calendar is booked for a few weeks," Meier said.

   "The next three weeks are our busiest - the last week in January and the first three in February," said Barney. "You still get your procrastinators - some people don't get in a big hurry because they don't need the money."

   Another local accountant who is swamped this month is Mike Abbott of JM Abbott & Associates.

   "We get very busy in February because farmers are required to file March, and corporation taxes are due March 15,” he said.  “After that, you always have your individual procrastinators, but most clients are in by April."

   One thing you can take to the bank is that early filers are looking for a refund.

   "This time of the year 90 percent of the people get refunds and they want to get it fast,” Barney said.  The quickest way for people to get the refund is by filing electronically.  “You can get your refund in your bank account in two weeks,” Barney adds.

"Between now and the first of March, it's all refunds," Meier said. "After the first of March, 90 percent of the people have to pay. They're in no hurry so they just wait. There's some that will wait until April 15, but three-fourths of those will file an extension.  They just don't want to let go of their money."

   Abbott said his refund ratio is a little different.

  "Of our clients now, probably half get refunds and half have to pay," he said. "Our business clients and our farmers usually owe money."

   While people are eager to receive their money, many filers don't bring all the paperwork needed to complete their returns, Barney and Meier admitted.

   "Most people are well prepared," Barney said. "After you do their returns for a year, they know what they need to bring.”  But sometimes after discussing their taxes “problems they don't know they have” will originate.

   Meier had a slightly different story.

   In general, “very few people come in prepared,” he stated.  “The ones I've had for awhile know what to bring, but some new ones have to come in twice."

   Over the years, Abbott has found a solution for this problem.

   "We send our clients an organizer and give them a pre-appointment," he said. "It forces them to get their stuff together before them come in."

[Ellen Shawgo]