A study provided by The Wyoming Children’s Action Alliance stated Sweetwater County was the worst in the state at meeting child-care needs for the infant to 2-year-old age group.
Sweetwater County’s shortfall for this age group was 82 percent. Albany County was the best with a 50 percent shortfall, which is sill a critical number.
Although the study was released in the spring, the numbers haven’t changed.
Marc Homer, KIDS COUNT coordinator/policy analyst, said he had heard from residents across the state that there was a shortfall.
“I was somewhat surprised at how deep the problem was,” Homer said.
Homer, who was perturbed by the numbers, wanted to double check to ensure the numbers were not wrong.
He called every child-care facility in Rock Springs.
“It became apparent that the numbers told the story,” Homer said. “It doesn’t seem like the community is responding quickly enough to meet the needs of young parents.”
Carma Lee, Southwest Region representative for Child Care Finder, said Sweetwater County has a total of 31 licensed child-care providers. There are 527 full-time, full-year slots available in the county. Of those slots, only 37 are available. None of them are for infants to 2-year-olds.
“It you have an infant forget it,” Lee said. “You’re going to be on a waiting list.”
“We need more day-care providers who are licensed,” Lee said.
Homer said Sheridan County responded to the need by a public/private partnership.
The City of Rock Springs and the YWCA are working together to decrease the shortfall.
YWCA executive director Christie DeGrendele said the City of Rock Springs will construct a toddler center behind the current YWCA. Construction should be completed by June 2009.
DeGrendele said the waiting list has stayed pretty steady.
“We haven’t seen it get bigger or small,” DeGrendele said.
However, there are still more than 100 on the waiting list. Usually, by the time they have an opening and start calling, some on the waiting list have already found child care.
“It’s very difficult. It’s a workforce issue, “ she said.
The county needs employees, but those potential employees can’t find child care.
Lee said the new child-care center would help decrease the shortfall, but it will be hard to find employees to work at the new center.
“Even McDonald’s pays more,” Lee said. “That’s the problem.”
She said one challenge is child-care centers don’t make enough money to pay their employees a big hourly wage. Most places can’t afford to pay benefits either.
Jeanine Cox, Young at Heart Senior Center director, said the new center across from the Rock Springs Recreation Center will have a day care. It will accommodate 58-60 children ages 1 to 5 years old.