Chapter 4 - Day Care and Foreign Service Families
As two-career families become the norm in our society, day care has become an important decision for many Foreign Service families. In the Washington area, because of the high number of single parent families and families in which both parents work, there is a great demand for good, affordable day care. Choice is complicated by the many types of day care available. Matching the appropriate setting with a child takes careful thought and often a fair amount of time.Overseas the availability of good day care centers varies greatly as does the quality and cost of caregivers in the home. The Family Liaison Office publishes an annual Composite Child Care Report which gives a brief description of the resources available post by post. The information is provided by the posts and the report is invaluable for young families considering their next assignment. Copies of the report are sent to CLOs and to Administrative Officers at posts where there is no CLO. Whether overseas or in Washington there are common concerns for parents. Much of the following discussion of child care options in the Washington area offers guidelines that parents can apply overseas when considering child care. Overseas, for post specific information beyond the post's entry in the Composite Child Care Report, parents may want to contact other families with young children and the CLO at post, if there is one.
DAY CARE
Appropriate day care for young children should offer a reliable, stable arrangement; a healthy, safe environment; interesting, stimulating daily activities; and caregivers who like children. Day care falls into two broad categories - care provided within the home/family structure and care provided in the community.
DAY CARE IN THE HOME/FAMILY STRUCTURE
The most popular type of day care in the United States is provided by older relatives or close friends either in their home or the child's. Unfortunately, Foreign Service families often do not have an extended family or even a structure of close friends upon whom they can call for this type of day care, even when in Washington. The second type of home care, one-on-one care in the child's home, is often a more familiar situation to the Foreign Service family.
A person is hired to care for the children either on a live-in or live-out basis. The child remains in his/her own home, and the caregiver usually is available for last-minute or emergency situations. This alternative may be necessary or desirable, especially for an infant or for more than one child. One-on-one caregivers can be hired through an employment agency or nanny placement service, or found by word-of-mouth recommendations. The Associates of the American Foreign Service Worldwide (AAFSW) helps Foreign Service families who are looking for child care in the Washington area. For information contact them at:
AAFSW (Child Care Referral Chair)
Suite 36
5125 MacArthur Boulevard NW
Washington, DC 20016
Tel: 202-362-6514
Fax: 202-362-6589
Email: office@aafsw.org
Web site: http://www.aafsw.org
BRINGING HOUSEHOLD HELP TO THE UNITED STATES
Many Foreign Service families fortunate enough to find good household help while serving overseas may consider bringing him/her to the United States for a Washington assignment. While the advantages are obvious, many questions arise about the logistics and legalities. Because Foreign Service employees expect to go back overseas after a Washington tour of duty, their household help may apply for a B/1 visa under the provisions of the Foreign Affairs Manual (9 FAM 41.31, note 6).
In order to qualify, the person must have 1 year of experience as a domestic worker and have been employed by the family for a minimum of 6 months in full-time status. There must be evidence that the employee is a bona fide nonimmigrant who has strong family ties in the host country, a commitment to accompany the employer to an onward assignment from the United States, or a past record of accompanying the family out of the country.
A contract showing the financial responsibilities of the employer is required. The contract must show that the employer is providing free room and board, the higher of the minimum or prevailing wage, and round trip airfare. In addition, the contract must guarantee all benefits normally provided in that location. These usually include the following: health and accident insurance, paid sick leave (even for an extended period), vacations and holidays, tax liability, and clothing for a seasonal climate. The employer must pay social security and Medicare taxes on a yearly basis for the employee. Employees falling under the FAM regulations may not supplement their income in the United States by seeking additional employment, either domestic or commercial, and the contract must state that. Finally, the contract must provide for 2 weeks termination notice. Employers of household help must also obtain an identification number through report and payment of both the employer's and the employee's tax contributions.
The employee's cultural adaptation to the United States must also be considered. Foreign Service families generally experience a reentry adjustment period of their own, so they should appreciate the challenge faced by an alien. Employees will probably need help learning how to use public transportation and telephones, where to make contact with others of their nationality, and how to establish a bank account or make arrangements to send money back to their families. If they are accustomed to extended family ties, they may need much more emotional support than expected in order to overcome the loneliness and make a positive adjustment. Foreign Service families considering bringing a household help to the United States must be aware of the serious commitment of funds, time, and energy that is required, and must realize that even with long-term employees, it does not always work.
DAY CARE IN THE COMMUNITY
The major types of community day care are the all-day center, the group home, and the family day care arrangement.
All-day centers are organized to meet the needs of working parents. They are open all day and all year long and usually take children from 3 to 5 years old, although some all-day centers are designed just for infants and others will take 2-year-olds still in diapers. Some offer services for children through the 6th grade, providing before- and after-school care, plus transportation between the center and public schools.
Group homes are smaller than all-day centers but larger than family day care homes. One caregiver and at least one assistant care for more than 6 but fewer than 13 children in the home of the caregiver.
Family day care homes have one caregiver caring for up to six children, usually including the caregiver's own children.
DAY CARE REGULATIONS AND LICENSING
Parents must become familiar with the day care licensing regulations for the area in which they live. Individual jurisdictions in the Washington area may or may not regulate day care arrangements. The forms of care that are regulated, how they are defined, and the specific standards also differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. If licensing is required, it is against the law to operate without a license. Unfortunately, licensing only means that minimum requirements have been met. It does not mean approval of the child care arrangements. Overseas, regulations governing the operations of a day care center may be more strict or not exist at all depending on the country.
Resources
The following organizations provide child care information for Washington area jurisdictions.
District of Columbia
Washington Child Development Council
2121 Decatur Place NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: 202-387-0001
Maryland
Charles County Office of Licensing and Regulation
(Information for St. Mary, Charles and Calvert Counties)
PO Box 260
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Tel: 301-475-3770Frederick County Child Care Consortium
22 South Market Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Tel: 301-695-4508Montgomery County Child Care Connection
332 West Edmonston Drive
Rockville, MD 20852
Tel: 301-279-1773
Virginia
Alexandria Child Care Information Service
Department of Human Resources, Unit 2
7525 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
Tel: 703-838-0750Arlington County Child Care Office
Department of Human Resources
1801 North George Mason Drive
Arlington, VA 22207-9831
Tel: 703-358-5101Fairfax County Office of Children
3701 Pender Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
Tel: 703-359-5860Falls Church City Department of Housing and Human Services
300 Park Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046
Tel: 703-241-5005Loudoun County Department of Social Services
102 Heritage Way, Suite 200
Leesburg, VA 22075
Tel: 703-777-0360Prince William County Department of Social Services
7987 Ashton Avenue, Suite 200
Manassas, VA 22110-3101
Tel: 703-792-7500
MAKING THE DAY CARE CHOICE
Some of the important considerations in choosing a day care arrangement are:
Parents' Work Schedule: Many day care centers accommodate only standard workdays. Parents must check the center's policy on arriving late to pick up the child, holiday closings, and accommodations for a sick child. Family day care and in-home arrangements are usually more flexible than day care centers or group homes.
Location: Some parents prefer child care near their home; others prefer it near the work place. Transportation, neighborhood friendships, and needs of siblings will all play a part in this decision.
Fees: Ten to 25 percent of gross income can be needed for child care. Two children often double the cost. In considering possibilities, make sure all fees and charges, including those for transportation, are included. Remember that the employer must make Social Security payments for in-home care-givers.
Age Groupings: Not all programs take children of all ages. Some separate children by age: infant (6 weeks to 15 months), toddler (15 to 24 months), older toddler (24 to 33 months), preschool (2-1/2 to 5 years), kindergarten (5 and 6 years), school age (6 years and older). Children need to be with others their own age. However, situations which have children of different ages can provide modeling experiences for younger children and instill a sense of responsibility in the older ones.
Group Size: Generally, children do better in small groups. Infants need a staff/child ratio of one caregiver to four infants. Toddlers should be in groups of three to ten; preschoolers do well in groups up to 20. Montessori schools, because of the nature of their programs, can usually accommodate a class of 30 children without difficulty.
Staff Training: Parents should always ask about the background of the director, the teachers, and the aides. College degrees are not the only sign of good training; courses in child development or early childhood education are also important. The most effective training is course work about children with an emphasis on supervised, direct work.
Program Goals: Programs with clear goals and goal-oriented staff training tend to provide the best environment for children.
Parental Role: Parents should never abdicate their role. In-home caregivers should be open to discussion and suggestions. Community care centers should welcome parent participation.
Discipline: Guidance and discipline should be applied in a way that helps the child and is not humiliating or harsh. Caregivers must be patient and skilled in helping children learn self-control and self-discipline.
Administration: An open, friendly, interested, caring, experienced administrator with a knowledge of children and skills in management is essential.
Environment: A good day care environment should include many of the following factors:
- opportunities to explore and test new skills while being protected from dangerous situations;
- soft toys, soft materials, and soft laps;
- quiet activities, games, music, stories, group and individual play;
- props and toys for acting out fantasies;
- clear rules and a knowledge of where everything goes;
- quiet corners or nooks where children can withdraw from the group when they want to;
- opportunities to know adults of various ages, sexes, and cultures;
- space divided so that small groups of children can work or play together;
- safe playground equipment appropriate for the ages of the children.
HOW TO FIND GOOD DAY CARE
Ideally, the search for appropriate day care should begin a year before it is needed. Families in Washington concerned about finding a place for their child can take these steps ahead of time:
- Remember that areas with good public schools generally have good day care.
- Contact friends and former neighbors to find out what is available in different neighborhoods.
- Contact county agencies on p 6-8 for lists of licensed day care facilities in each jurisdiction. This information changes frequently, often without notice, so families should contact the agencies by telephone, if possible.
- Visit day care programs while on home leave or vacation and put the child on a waiting list.
- Check the local telephone Yellow Pages to locate options within an appropriate geographical range.
- Ask other parents of young children about their day care arrangements.
Caregivers often advertise on bulletin boards in grocery stores, churches, local colleges, community centers, and apartment buildings as well as in neighborhood newspapers. As the importance of day care becomes more apparent, many private companies and government agencies offer assistance to parents. Check with your agency to see if child care facilities are available or being planned. Parents employed in the private sector should also check the possibility of on-site day care at either their own or a neighboring company.
Abroad, in some countries many of the same resources and sometimes more are available. In others, information is scarce and parents will have to rely on the Mission community for advice and information.
Resources
Directory of Accredited Child Care Programs in the Washington Metropolitan Region - covers accreditation as well as listing child care centers and family child care providers in the District of Columbia, Suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Download a copy from the web site of:
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
777 North Capitol Street, NE, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20002-4239
Tel: 202-962-3256 (1 - 5 p.m. weekdays)
Web site: http://www.mwcog.org
PRESCHOOL/NURSERY SCHOOL OPTIONS
Nursery or preschool represents the child's very first educational experience and often determines whether the child enjoys and is successful in later schooling experiences. Just as with day care arrangements, parents choosing a nursery or preschool must first think about their own goals and needs. Consider the following issues.
Cost: In Washington, cost ranges from no cost or sliding-scale for public school pre-kindergarten up to $9,000 for a private school. At post, cost varies from country to country. Parents should note that the Education Allowance does not cover preschool or nursery school costs and covers only 1 year of Kindergarten.
Toilet-training: Some schools require 2-year-olds to be trained.
Schedule of care: Do you need all day, extended day, or part time care?
Structure: Is the emphasis on academics or play or a combination of both?
Parental involvement: Cooperative nursery schools require parental participation.
Physical plant: Look closely at the building and the equipment.
Student-teacher ratio: For 2-year-olds, there should be one teacher for every seven children; for 3- and 4-year-olds, there should be one teacher for every ten children.
Balance: Look at the ratio of boys to girls and the number of children of different ethnic backgrounds.
CHOOSING A NURSERY SCHOOL OR A PRESCHOOL
The basic difference between a preschool and a nursery school is that a nursery is based on a play/socializing experience and a preschool has an academic enrichment component. The choice will depend on the child's age and special needs as well as the parents' expectations and educational philosophies.
Parents should visit at least four or five different schools even if they decide that their first choice is perfect. Ideally, for a family in Washington the visits should take place in the fall of the year before the child is ready to attend. Classroom observation is essential; the parent should also have a tour of the entire facility and a meeting with the director.
Following are some of the things parents should look for in a preschool or nursery school classroom whether assigned in Washington or elsewhere:
- Do the children and the teacher appear to be happy and relaxed?
- How do the teacher and the children relate to each other?
- How does the teacher handle problems that come up?
- Is there a wide range of hands-on material and are the children allowed to use it?
- What are your feelings about the classroom?
After observing in the classroom, the parents should meet with the school's director. The wonderful classroom teacher may not be there when the child attends the school; the director's personality determines what kind of a school it is. Parents should discuss their child's needs as well as what was observed in the classroom. In addition, the director's answers to the following questions will give parents a very good idea whether the school is suitable:
- What is the school's daily routine?
- What is the academic component of the school? Is it written down?
- What is the policy concerning the child's initial adjustment?
- What is the policy toward discipline? The parent should discuss what was observed in the classroom.
- What are the staff qualifications and length of service? Although high turnover may indicate problems, a very low turnover might mean that new ideas are not welcome.
- How is communication between the school and the parent fostered?
- Are parents welcome at any time?
- What is the policy regarding illnesses or late pickups?
After the child has entered, the parent must continue monitoring the school situation. Impromptu visits should be made occasionally. The school should be contacted immediately if the child's behavior changes in any way. If factors at home change, the school should be advised so that it will be aware of any difficulties the child may be having.
PUBLIC PRE-KINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS
For Foreign Service parents assigned to Washington, the area's public schools offer some programs. Public School Programs and Admissions Requirements in Chapter 6 of this book tells which school districts have pre-kindergarten programs. Because the availability of these programs could be affected by changing budgets, parents should contact the district directly to verify the information.
Information provided by the Family Liaison Office.
Contact the Family Liaison Office
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