The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Rural Child care By Carol Stewart-Kirkby Owr the last few years, interest in proxiding rural child care has increased. Although no blanket policy or service became aiailable across the province, several local projects have been deteloped and are operating successâ€" fully. Because residents of one county need something slightly different than the residents of another County, the protects are unique. in this issue of Home 8: Country, we will take a close look at [W0 rural child care services. in future issues, other projects will be mammed. Perhaps you will find here the information for a suitable child care project in your locality, KENT COUNTY (around Ridgetown) Marg Eberle, a Palmyra WI member, is the viceâ€"chairman of the board which directs the child care prOJECl around Ridgetown. She says the seed for the service was planted over a year ago. “In February 1987, we held a Women's Development Day for rural women. One of the work- shops covered rural day care initia- tives. We found the workshop partici- pants wanted to learn more and go farther with this. so we organized a public meeting," Marg explained. From the meeting came the ll-member board and soon a needs assessment survey was being con- ducted in the area within a 15 mile radius of Ridgetown. During those early stages. advise came by way of a representative of the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS). “It was important to have input from Community and Social Services because they give approval to the funding, and helped steer our decisions so we would receive that approval,” Marg said. What was also important, according to Marg. was the support to form the board and the enthusiasm and energy of volunteers to carry out the survey. “Being able to determine a need and then produce it in writing are essential first steps,“ she added. Once the need was established, the search for a facility for the day care centre began. “This was perhaps our biggest problem. We spent all last summer looking for a place," said Marg. At first, the board looked into renting, then investigated buying an existing building, and then discussed building a new facility. Finally. with the approval of MCSS, the board bought an old house with the idea of renovating it. In the proposal to MCSS, the board outlined the purchase price of the house and estimates on the renovations. It took about three months to get the funding approved, said Marg. On Feb. 1, the renovations began. in On farm-â€" This included painting and wall papering throughout, as well as thV installation of fire doors, fencing a S playground equipment. “ The centre opened for busineSs on April 1 with seven professional child care workers, a partâ€"time cook and caretaker. Thirty-five children were using the facility shortly after openjn day. 3 As well as funding the purchase of the house and the renovations, MCSS will pay the operating expenses of the centre for its first three months. Arie; that, the centre is expected to be self. sufficient. Marg explained feex “are guesstimated based on hydro gas property tax and insurance payirie‘ntsy as well as salaries. “It’s aimnsi impossible to know exactly how many children will register. We have made it clear to our parents that fees may increase, based on actual cos’s and numbers of children? Marg (tJded. Some of the spots in the cenue are subsidized by the county, but i-, is. up to the individual, not the da- care centre to apply for the subsid«.. Children are registered on i. first- come, first-served basis and the cum is open from 6:30 am. to 6 FIJI, Monday to Friday. A philosophy for the ceni': was developed by the board before r-nening day. “We are aiming to achieve a homeâ€"like atmosphere far the children. This is not aschool. We do hat- some 14 H & C April, May 1988