McPherson County Assessment of Child Care Needs
Representatives from USD #418, MIDC, United Way of McPherson County and McPherson Chamber of Commerce complied the results of the recent survey that was sent to employers to parents of USD #418 students and other means of reaching out to parents. (110 responses)
Questions:
1. What is your current child care situation?
38.5%- stay home or with family
11% – stay with a friend
20.2% – attend private, licensed daycare
21.1% – attend a daycare center
10.1% – attend a daycare center & a preschool
0.9% – attend USD #418 PreK fulltime
3.7% – attend USD #418 PreK part-time
9.2% – receive childcare outside McPherson
11.9% – received childcare in more than one setting
29.4% – attend school (k-12)
2. Would you take advantage of a quality community childcare center if available?
51.8% – Yes
40% – Maybe
9% – No
3. What type of childcare would interest you?
24.3% – Monday-Friday normal school hours
54.4% – Monday-Friday extended hours (7-6)
9.7% – Monday-Friday half days
15.5% – Two-Three days per week normal school hours
10.7% – Two-Three days per week half days
11.7% – After school only
15.5% – Monday-Friday night time for shift work
22.3% – Sick child daycare
40.8% – Back up childcare
21.4% – Summer childcare
18.4% – Holiday childcare
4. Age of children
26.9% – Birth-1
15.4% – 1-2
15.4% – 2-3
15.4% -3-4
15.4% – 4-5
53.8% – Elementary school age
11.5% – middle school age
3.8% – High School age
The committee will meet to review the results closely and determine what the next step will be in addressing the need of quality childcare.