Weirton residents learn importance of child care

WEIRTON -- Accessible, affordable and high-quality child care is a central component to a strong economy, according to providers, parents and business representatives who took part in a town hall event held in Weirton Wednesday.

"Child care often is referred to as daycare or babysitting, but we don't care for the day and we don't sit on babies," noted Tiffany Gale, owner and operator of Miss Tiffany's Early Childhood Education House in Weirton, in opening the "A Day Without Child Care" event at the Millsop Community Center.

Gale explained the importance of child care as part of a community, but also explained there is a lack of viable programs available in many areas of West Virginia, and those which are in operation often have difficulties keeping their doors open because of the funding formulas used in West Virginia.

What's more, she said, without child care programs, many parents have to make a choice whether to seek employment, which then also affects the staffing of area businesses.

"Child care is the business that supports other businesses," Gale said. "A day without child care is a day without employees."

Barb Barkley, general manager of the Fairfield by Marriott in Weirton, noted one-third of her staff relies of some form of child care, whether it is through a business such as Miss Tiffany's, a family member or a paid, in-home child care provider.

"It's a vital part of my business," she said of having child care available.

According to Child Care Aware of America and TEAM For West Virginia Children, an average of 42.6 percent -- or 22,949 -- children under the age of 6 need, but have no access to, child care. In addition, West Virginia rates 50th in the nation for child care accessibility, and 64 percent of West Virginia families live in a child care desert, meaning there are no programs available in their region.

Trichelle Barish, a mother of two, explained how, if child care programs weren't available, she wouldn't be able to work. She also noted early child care can provide vital services, such as speech therapy programs, and help to teach early life skills to the youth in their care.

"For some families, these are the only people they have for support," she said. "You hear people say 'It takes a village.' It really does."

Gale, along with Kristy Ritz, executive director of West Virginia Association For Young Children, explained the efforts to build support at the state level, through the Legislature, to change the funding availability for child care programs.

Three bills were introduced during the 2023 regular session, but none made it out of committees. Each bill, according to Ritz, focused in some way on the current funding by the state, which provides payment based on attendance of children and not enrollment.

"Imagine a K-12 educator getting a pay cut because a child isn't there," Gale said of the current formula, while also noting the cost of providing child care for one child is more expensive than tuition at West Virginia University, and compensation for child care staff is, on average, less than $11 an hour, making it difficult to attract and retain employees.

Wednesday's event was part of a series of seven town halls scheduled around the state, with events previously held in Oak Hill, Wheeling, Bridgeport and Harpers Ferry. A town hall also was held Wednesday in South Charleston, with the final event set for May 11 in Lewisburg.

Nationally, Monday will be observed as A Day Without Child Care, and, in Weirton, Mayor Harold Miller has recognized May 12 as Provider Appreciation Day.