Bureau of Child Care targeted for budget cuts

Heather Fisher keeps a recent story from the Southeast Missourian pinned up in her office at Child Care Resource and Referral.

The story is about a 43-year-old Cape Girardeau baby sitter recently charged with abusing a 4-month-old girl. Next to that clipping is a story about proposed cuts to Bureau of Child Care funding.

Fisher worries that proposed cuts would make abusive or unsafe conditions more prevalent for Missouri children because the loss of funding means fewer state inspections for child-care providers.

"This will probably raise the caseloads for inspectors from 20 to 50 percent," said Fisher, a training coordinator at Southeast Missouri's Child Care Resource and Referral. "Most providers are visited twice a year, but with the cuts it would only be once a year. This will be harmful for children because unfortunately, there are some low-quality programs."

Child Care Resource and Referral helps parents find a suitable provider for their children's care in a 20-county area that ranges from Jefferson County to the Bootheel. While the service is available to anyone, Fisher said not all parents know the resource office exits.

The proposed cuts to the Bureau of Child Care -- part of Gov. Matt Blunt's budget recommendations -- would result in the reduction of 200 staff members.

"In order to balance the budget these changes are necessary. Without the changes we're looking at a tax increase," said Jessica Robinson, Blunt's press secretary. "There will be an impact to the frequency of some evaluations, but they intend to follow up on all complaints and continue to inspect as required by law."

Local child-care workers say they don't believe that's enough.

"It upsets me a lot because we use that bureau. Not only do they check on us but if we have issues that arise, they help us work it out," said Rose Kinsey, director of Just Kids in Jackson. "Just once a year is not enough. We need someone there more than that."

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128