HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 09-20 Lack of area day care homes termed "critical" THE DISPATCH 2 Sections - 30 Pages * * * * * * *
To.reach over
101,000 homes
• in this area
IL
a IAtil advertise in
a
City Clerk
NIL au _ City of Maplewood pan Dan
1 380 Prost- Avon iu
St. Paul , Mie . ;5I0 ) 7-7443
* * *
r innesota --rne—
Single Copy 30(t WED., SEPT. 20, 1978
Meeting the need
Lackof area day care
• i
homes termed ' critical '
By KATHY HOLMES for infants.They can go to a center,but it decision.
will cost$15 a day," he said. When asked whether Maplewood will
Recently the Ramsey County Day Care The Day Care Association suggests that eventually allow the permits to be ob-
Referral Service reported that they providers charge $35 a week for each tained more easily, Mayor John Greavu
said, "I hope we could arrange that."
received more than 1,400 calls in the infant or child. Two of w neighborsdr who signedhathe
month of August — representing up to Hofstedt went on to say that day care Petition opposing Auge's gdeclined to
1,800 children. The shortage of day care homes are often more feasible ngroupdaypermit de home to
homes, they say, is critical. economically and more convenient for commenthis time.
Maplewood is one of the few cities in the working mothers than day care centers. A family day care home cannot
county that requires a special use permit The hours are more flexible,Auge added. like the group dan'c, "who lived in a
for a group family day care home.This is "It depends on a person's philosophy," behoe." dwoman's,
strict standards,"
one in which the applicant is allowed up to said Hofstedt. "Do parents want their saidsoHofstedt."Carol's These strict a year ,"
14 children. The licensed day care home children close to home and in a certain experience indt day care, specialludetraining,
of
allows up to six children. environment." reference checks, fire inspection,n
Carol Auge,1933 Flandrau,was the first Carol Auge began applying for herquestionnaires to the mothers the
to apply for this special use permit. special use permit in early March of this ui on, interview andh home he
in-
Despite a petition opposing her request, year. Six weeks later, her application spection a day care officials.
she was granted the permit for a year. came before the Planning Commission, "Minn by has some of thes. toughest
"I still feel like I'm on trial,"Auge said. and May 4, she came before the in nationmefor day toughest
"I haven't heard a word from the neigh- Maplewood City Council. standardsawent the to say. These include
bors." "The more situations like mine will
Seventy per cent of the children in make it easier for the next person," said safety, health, discipline and food stan-
dards.
Auge's home are from Maplewood. "If Auge. Theres. are also many available
there were more licensed homes, there Hofstedt said that Roseville is the only to carealsoaat the courses available
University la le
would be less of a need for group homes," other suburb that requires a special use today providerso ers Toys 'n Things, a
of
Auge commented. Maplewood, however, permit for the group day care homes."St. Minnesotaainand d from
i anyone
a
is listed by the service as being one of the Paul requires a special permit, but it's a tinvolved in day resource centereis for anyone
more critical areas of shortage in the totally different process. You can't have this in day care.ie.
county. any more than three group homes in a "The RamseytiCounty Day Care
Rod Hofstedt of the Ramsey County given area.It's a simple matter of putting Tis Ca yand
Day Care Association talked about the in the application," he explained,adding Association to meet ,c recognizingsaid needacn
shortage."`There is virtually no day care that the city is planning to make it a staff trying