Jul 10
30
Child care crises – poverty, employment and the “Pass-Around Baby”
World Congress of Families Family Update: Child Care Crises
Family Fact of the Week: Who’s Left Holding the Kids?
In this rocky economy, when parents get their hands on a job, they want to hold on to it with both hands. But who’s left holding their kids?
The Florida Department of Children and Families sees more kids left home alone, or even worse, in the wrong hands. “Child care is maybe one of those areas where people can scale back on,” said Carrie Hoeppner, a DCF spokeswoman. One of the things we want to reiterate to parents is the decision on who is watching your child is really one of the most important ones that you can make.” There is no state law saying how old a child must be before he or she can stay home alone. DCF said it’s best the parent makes that decision and knows when their kid is ready.
As parents try to avoid the unemployment lines, they are scrambling to work extra hours and overnight shifts without the right supervision for their children. “Somebody who was new to the child’s life, not the biological father, somebody who doesn’t have a lot of experience parenting themselves, and were left in that position as a caregiver, maybe for all day,” Hoeppner said. DCF said it sees trouble with men ages 18 to 30 who are unemployed themselves. It’s this group who often provides primary child care while mothers are working. “Mom works and there is a new male figure in her life, and she is entrusting this individual to watch her child,” Hoeppner said. “Before you allow somebody to watch your child, you need to make sure that they are prepared, that they can do this job. It needs to be the right person for your child.”