The Jericho-Syosset-Wodbury Child Care Partnership held a Community Leaders Awareness Forum on April 12 to address the many child care issues facing the community.

The Child Care Partnership held this forum to present research to quantify the child care needs and relate stories about the difficulties in finding or creating quality child care opportunities. Those in attendance included the Syosset Council of PTA's, representatives from John Venditto, Tony Macagnone, Bonnie Eisler and Carl Marcellino's offices, members of the Jericho school district, various churches and synagogues, the Jericho Council of PTA's, Judy Jacobs, civic leader Joe Lorintz and many child care parents and providers.

"We wanted to make many community leaders aware of the lack of child care, the need for more spaces and what really constitutes quality child care," said Debbie Austin, founding member of the Partnership. "People tend to think that being a wealthy area, we do not need child care and that is not the case."

The Jericho-Syosset-Woodbury Child Care Partnership works in collaboration with Child Care Council of Nassau which has, for over two decades, been at the forefront of issues surrounding quality child care. The members of the partnership represent all segments of the community including individuals, educators, the corporate sector, child care providers, civic and government leaders.

Lenore Sylvan, Partnership chair, began the forum by introducing Ben Ciuffo, assistant superintendent of the Jericho School District who played a video, produced and filmed by students at Jericho High School, which described quality child care.

Allison Alper, a concerned parent who resides within the area, spoke about her child care experiences with her 4-year-old and newborn. After having her first child, she decided to go back to work and to get a nanny. Becoming concerned after several months, she decided to secretly tape the nanny at her house. "I found no physical abuse, but I did find that the nanny ignored my child and did not provide the level of loving care that I expected," said Alper. The next step for Alper was with a center. Her child stayed there for 11 months, although she was not very comfortable with it. "The care was adequate, but I got no warm and fuzzy feeling," she said. "There is a large need for affordable child care as it is too expensive in this area."

Roberta Kuehl, a commercial real estate agent, discussed the problems in trying to place a child in care centers in Nassau County. "There is first and foremost the permit process, which is lengthy and costly," said Kuehl. "Child care is not a permitted use in town building codes... The cost factor in reconfiguring commercial space makes child care cost prohibitive."

Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs attended the forum and spoke about the county government's role in child care and about the Child Care Commission's revitalization.

Gloria Wallick, executive director of Child Care Council of Nassau, spoke at the Forum explaining the actions she has taken regarding this issue. "I have written to the supervisors of the various towns and would like them to come up with a way to compel developers to set aside one acre of land on large tracts for child care at the time they are going for their various approvals," said Wallick.

Adelle Gallo, a group family daycare provider, raised an important issue during the question and answer period of the forum regarding the Partnership's brochure. Home care providers are not included in the brochure and she felt they were being left out. It was explained that the names and addresses were not listed for privacy and security reasons. It was decided at the forum that a statement should be included in the brochure telling people where to get a list of home providers. "Home providers could use the partnership's support," said Gallo.

Many others spoke about the lack of child care in the area and also made suggestions on how to improve the current situation. An audience member suggested that child care should be available 52 weeks a year. The most prevalent child care in this area is nursery schools and they are run on a school-year basis, which burdens working parents. Another suggestion was that child care money should be completely tax deductible in order to make it more affordable to those who need it.

"I was extremely pleased about the format of the forum, the speakers and the participation of those in the audience," said Lenore Sylvan, Partnership chair, about the outcome of the forum. "We had a very insightful and productive exchange of ideas and possible solutions to the problems that had been discussed. It was heartwarming to realize that the state, county and town officials would cooperate together and address quality child care in our area."

This was only the beginning of the Child Care Council of Nassau and the Child Care Partnership's endeavor to improve the current child care situation. "We plan to continue involving the community, the religious and civic organizations," said Sylvan. "We want to achieve total commitment to the Child Care Council's slogan: Every day counts in the life of a child."