Speaker: Chioma , Georgia Parent (Decatur, GA)
Please introduce yourself, including the city you live in, the ages of your child(ren), & whether they attend child care.
Chioma : Hello, my name is Chioma Beasley, and I would like to share my story. I have a newborn, and I had to go back to work. I was off because I had 6 weeks of leave, but I was not paid for not one penny. And finding childcare is very hard and difficult for me, because I am a single mother, unfortunately. But yesterday, going to the Capitol, writing to the person that represents me, was a great opportunity. I also brought my daughter and my sister, which they can see change that's actually happening now. I enjoyed the food, talking to different ladies that have the same type of stuff I have. We both figured it out that there's not a lot of help for a woman that's going through post partum trauma in their life, and it's really kind of sad. So I really enjoyed my time with them, and it was a great experience.
What criteria do you look for in a child care provider or caregiver for your children?
Chioma : What I really look for om a child care and provider is being kind, nice to the children. I try to go in there and see how they treat the other kids in there. It's very important that they have patience because we are dealing with children. So when I look for a provider is, you know, how do they treat the children? Are they happy? Because it's like a special type of person to deal with kids, and I try my best to look at that part. And if it's clean. I like facilities that are very clean and neat and organized, academic. I like that they're teaching them numbers, alphabet, not just letting them sit down and watch the TV all day and coloring. I like them to engage with the children. I like them to plan different type of activities like going off the facilities and the zoo or the Georgia Aquarium to open the children's minds, because the kids are with them majority of the days when the parents are working. So, with that being said, I just wanna make sure that the teacher know that you basically raising them with the parents, so, you know, raise them like how you want to raise your children. So, that's what I really look at.
What challenges has your family experienced affording and finding child care?
Chioma : The prices are rising. I mean, there's not affordable housing, the price of rent has gone triple, and most people's paychecks don't even cover that. And also food is also rising, because them two play a factor. It's like, you really can't afford child care because it's like, "Hey, I'm paying double for rent, and then I got to buy food. So it's like, I have to work more hours, and I can't spend with my children." But yeah, my family has experienced that a lot. Just finding affordable child care is very difficult. I mean, I have seen child care that want $300 a week, and that's fine if it's one child. But if you have multiple kids, and $300 a week, you're looking at, you know, 3 times 4, that's $1,200. I mean, most people with paychecks are not even that much to cover child care, rent, and food. Like, I mean, you literally have to make $5000 a month, not working an average job. Making minimum wage or even making $20 an hour, you're still not making that much money. So yeah, it'sā it's been very difficult for me and my family, but I just thank God and try to stay positive to get us through all the challenging.
If your child receives or has previously received a CAPS scholarship, what impact has it had on you and your child?
Chioma : At this moment, I do not receive CAPS, because I just had a baby, and so I have to go back to work and build up my hours to apply for CAPS. I do not receive any scholarships, so I do not receive any of that yet. Hopefully I can get it started, but I mean, it depends on where I'm making. A lot plays in to factor.
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