The closure of four daycare homes in Calais within the past year has led to a shortage of child-care services for parents in eastern Washington County. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which licenses child-care facilities, is aware of the shortage and is working to help get more homes licensed.
Penni Theriault, who has been running Lots of Tots Child Care in Princeton for the past 25 years, stresses, "There is a real shortage." Her daycare is licensed for 12 children, although she handles more since some children come on a part-time basis. It's currently full, and she gets calls every day from parents seeking child-care. "I have 17 on a waiting list to get in. I've never had a waiting list that long."
     "I feel really bad for people. Some of them are begging for a space," Theriault says. She relates that one woman called her and Theriault had to tell her that she had no openings, except for one spot from 8 to 2 on Fridays. "She said I'll take it," even though she needed full-time care. "It's very, very difficult for working families."
     Although the days are long for Theriault, with the first children coming at 6 a.m. and the last not leaving till 5:30 p.m. or later, she is not able to meet the demand. "No one is providing night care for shift work at the mill," she points out. "That care is not available."
     Along with Theriault's home, the only other licensed daycare homes in eastern Washington County are the early care center at Washington County Community College and Angela Ramsey's child-care home in Calais, Sarah Donahue's in Perry, the Passamaquoddy Child Development Center at Pleasant Point and Indian Township Daycare. For comparison, six child-care centers are licensed by DHHS in just Machias and East Machias.
     According to information provided by DHHS about the four Calais closures, Tracy Ramsey had a conditional license that became effective October 8, 2013, for a home at 38 Spruce St. Her licensing was voided on September 2, 2014. Ramsey continued to operate and was sent a letter from DHHS on October 8 ordering her to close. As of the first week of November, she had closed. Mary Carter voluntarily closed her home at 65 Lincoln St. in August. DHHS staff had made an unannounced visit on August 12, and Carter declined the inspection and requested that her home be closed as a child-care provider. Lisa Thornton had been issued a conditional license that became effective on June 23, 2013, for her home at 105 Hardscrabble Road. She voluntarily closed on November 25, 2013. Heidi Fitch voluntarily closed her daycare home at 110 Garfield St. on September 3, 2013.
     DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew states, "DHHS recognizes the need for more child-care facilities in the area, and we are prepared to take several measures to make it easier for people to start a licensed child-care facility. I have directed the Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services to prioritize applications in Washington County, expediting review and providing interested parties with checklists, template documents and outreach by phone in order to address this critical need. DHHS is committed to ensuring that the children and families of Washington County have the support they need so that parents can go to work and children have a safe and supportive place to spend their day."

Range of options important
     The St. Croix Early Care and Education Center at Washington County Community College, which is operated under Child and Family Opportunities, does have openings in its preschool program, but its infants and toddlers program is filled. The center is licensed for 20 preschool children and for eight children ages 6 months to 3 years for child-care. In Washington County, the center is one of only two Level 4 daycare centers, the highest rating by the state. It collaborates with the school system on the preschool program.
      Marcia Rogers, manager of the center, notes the importance of having a range of child-care options for parents. "There is a need for different types of child-care. Not all kids do well in center-based ones and not all do well in home-based ones. When you lose a home, it's difficult for parents to make a choice. It's great for parents to have the choice."
"We owe it to children to have the best program we can have," Rogers says. "It's very important for kids to grow and develop in those early years."
      Theriault echoes that sentiment. Noting that research has shown that the most significant brain development occurs during the years between birth and age 3, she says if children can't be home with parents then "it's important that those kids are with trained providers, with a lot of stimulation, in good care and being played with." Theriault adds that daycare providers are not babysitters, and she stresses the importance of being "with providers who have the training to back that up, if they can't be at home with their parents."
      An analysis by the White House Council of Economic Advisers released on December 10 during the White House Summit on Early Childhood Education describes the economic returns to investments in early childhood education, including increased parental earnings and employment in the short‑term, reduced need for remedial education and later public school expenditures, as well as long‑term outcomes such as increased educational attainment, increased earnings, improved health and decreased involvement with the criminal justice system. Research suggests expanding early learning initiatives would provide benefits to society of roughly $8.60 for every $1 spent.
      Theriault is hoping that the state will help set up new daycare homes in the area. "There is training out there, and the state is willing to help with that. It's not a hard process." Obtaining licensing from a state DHHS inspector and approval from the State Fire Marshal's Office "can be easily accomplished."
      "There are seasoned providers very willing to help new providers," she says, noting that a network of the daycare providers meets once a month in Machias.
      Of the rewards for daycare providers, she says, "You won't get rich at it, but you get paid in so many other ways. I get a ton of hugs a day. Where else are you going to get that?"