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By CHRISTINA gporler Is about to turn Ml homes across the onjnto mini day age of children Its better suited those children for whom a large centre- type setting Is not comfortable And its cheaper than centre care- about the half the coat to both the region and the province which funds 50 per cent of the capital costs and per cent of the operating costs of municipal centres The idea is to provide day care by contracting the vice of someone in a private home She provides appropriate care for the children the taxpayer saves the cost of building and maintaining a centre How and why la the service being started Its part of a provincewide move to expand day delivery beyond service through municipal centres which nave become expensive both to build and operate York a the program last year and Sandra Bowles the regions private home day care supervisor has been at work since organizing it Word was spread months ago through the network of social service agencies about the program what kind of providers and homes were suitable and what kind of screening process the providers would be put through Information let ters were sent to schools In isolated areas throughout Georgina and Whit church for example where the service might be needed Signs were posted in the regions four day care centres As calls were received offering service there have been about to date for the maximum of MALTON Jan Fitzgerald admits that her job isnt physically demanding But she thinks its a respon sible one and should be paid accordingly Mrs Fitzgerald is private home day provider for Peel Region And she was one of the women that Sandra Bowles Yorks ome program supervisor visited as the program was being prepared The Fitzgerald home is a large comfortable town- house A full- length mural of the moon decorates one wall Shelves along a second wall hold pottery and books The stereo turntable sits on a coffee tabled Ildoesnt look like a home inhabited by children it Is In ad dition to her own eight- yearold son Mrs Fitzgerald cares daily for four other children aged three to six years as part of a Peel program similar to the one that York will be running soon She got into the program two years ago when she ap proached a Canada Manpower Centre seeking employment and instead decided to answer notices about the day care program Peel officials put her through a screening process similar to the one York has proposed She was interviewed had her borne examined for safety and suitability a bed for each child to rest in was one requirement and took I a examination She was required to spend some time in a nearby private day care centre to receive I safety Instructions and to participate In craft program- sessions The children around am are allowed to or a short time and then outdoors A period of or artwork is followed by lunch A quiet time in which each child goes to a separate room to either read or sleep lasts about an hour Afternoons are taken up by further play or programs or by ah outing Last week the children held their own field day in a nearby park Another day they visited a shopping centre The program is structured to provide both in- and physical stimulation Mrs Fitzgerald says and allows the children a routine of events that they can look forward to For her services shes paid twice a month for those days that the children at tended her home Peel fees are slightly lower than those approved by York children under two years children over two years and for children that attend a halfday The fees were recently raised by eight percent partly due to a letter she wrote suggesting that the fees were too low the mother says She thinks they should be set at per day which still wouldnt bring the wage to the equivalent of per hour but would be a better indication of the responsibility she feels she taking for the development of the children in her care The money she receives allows her to break even on the cost of feeding tertalning and providing the children with crafts and programs Mrs Fitzgerald says There is no provision for make extra money from the venture a situation she says most of the providers she knows find themselves But there are benefits to the program she says and she enjoys providing It She appreciates the fact that regional workers are there for support when she needs advice about a childs problem or program She enjoys Ihe status that the regionally- contracted work provides And shes come to look forward to the mon- thly meetings at which providers meet to exchange experiences and advice In addition she has some free time during the day to work at the things that in terest her shes learned many crafts through teaching the children and her home reflects the interest shes taken in handmade work Her son Jason has fit into the program well Hes said that he prefers to have his mother working at home where he can see her at and after school He enjoys the company of the other children One thing the provider has had to get used to are the sur prise visits from regional supervisors The last time one arrived Mrs Fitz gerald was in the process of cleaning her refrigerator and had food spread throughout the kit chen But she thinks the visits are a good idea both because the region should know what the providers are doing and because it keeps her on her toes- Her only regret about the job The Its an important part of these kids lives that theyre cared for properly have activities for their developmentV- says Jan Fitzgerald Its important and Im trying Its not hard work but its responsible It would be nice if that was recognized homes the region has agreed to fund Mrs Bowles began the lengthy job of in terviewing applicants A visit is made to each home to deter mine why the provider is interested In the program her interest In children or previous experience with them her willingness to learn about organizing routines and programs or about child development and to physically examine her home and play equipment Other impressions are gathered during the interview the kind of neighbourhood the womens attitude toward the job possible problems from her own children Some othe other requirements of providers are a safety inspection of the home by local fire officials a medical examination and chest xray and a safety check of the home following a checklist provided by the region Considerations on Mrs Bowles own checklist for providers include a sensitive and warm manner with children eagerness to learn about the role of provider a selfconfident and relaxed manner evidence of friendships in the neighbourhood a grasp of child development realistic ex pectations for children including her own acceptance of the regions no spanking policy familiarity with nutrition and meal planning and common sense about home hazards Once accepted providers agree to care for and teach the children through a program of activities and occasional outings to supply them with a nutritious lunch and two snacks daily and to look after the recordkeeping and communications with both the region and the childrens parents Children aged six weeks to years are eligible for the program which makes it more flexible than that at centres where only children aged six months to five years can be admitted Providers bill the region monthly ac cording to the following schedule children under two years per day children from two five years per day halfday for school children per day and for those needing or after school only per day The costs funded per cent by the compare with those of running municipal centres infants per week preschool children per week handicapped children per week with a per week provincial subsidy The above costs are those of running the centre fees paid by parents are some what lower and do not cover costs Under home care revisions ills parents for the number of days requested but pays a provider for only those days that the child actually attended the home Attendance re cords signed by both the provider and the parent are sub mitted with the providers billing Each provider is informed about those costs that are deductible from her income through a pamphlet printed and distributed by the region J Up to five children not more than two below the age of two years and not more than three below the age of three years can be taken into a home That number includes the children of the provider Before starting her program each provider is required to spend two weeks in either a municipal centre or a private day care centre to observe and the of children Workshops on other areas of interest to providers are being scheduled by the region Spot visits are made monthly to the homes and a quar terly visit made by regional daycare supervisor Gordon In addition a yearly visit is made by an early childhood consultant from the province So as York prepares to set up is minicentres what do its program super visors hope the project will accomplish A complement to existing centrebased service says Mrs Gordon Service to those areas where there are not enough children to warrant a centre And an alternative for those children who for reasons varying from shyness to a high need for individual at tention arent suitable for centre care And perhaps most important to those parents of children now on wailing lists simply some additional space for children needing day care Women are eager to begin programs NEWMARKET Sandra Bowles has seen an awful lot of eager women in the last few months Mrs Bowles the regions supervisor of the soon-to-be- launched private home day care program has been on the road interviewing prospective providers and arranging program details since May Its been a lengthy process An hour or more with each of the 35 women whove offered their services Checks of the homes for suitablility and safety One week and 235 miles logged just to interview fire chiefs across the region about the home in spections that must be done for acceptance of the providers What kind of women are offering to run the small personalized centres in their homes Eager ones for most part Most have children of their own and most are eagerly planning programs and building equipment for the children even though they havent yet been accepted Mrs Bowles says A few women declined after they learned whats in volved in the service But most have been excited about the program and by support and prestige that a regionally- contracted service will provide them Theres yet to be a call from a man in terested in the program likely because income from the service is not high enough to provide a sole means of support the supervisor guesses J J AURORA Aurora Highlands Golf Club owner Joseph Shaw has approached town with a plan could see McDonald Dr put through to join Murray Dr as early as next year according to Mayor George Tfmpson The mayor made the comment during a discussion about the present traffic signals at St and Murray Dr at a council In committee meeting last week The town Is looking to McDonald Dr as an alternate north south access route to Yonge St Minor The extension would also allow for a second water main to service the southern end of Aurora Mr Shaw is likely to- be granted permission to build on the front acres of the course when the Ontario Municipal Board conducts hearings on the towns official plan but no development Is ex pected by next year The plan will likely be based on Initially bisecting course with any new road Mr Shaw was in when Tho Era attempted to contact him for comment on proposal may assume Ken Kerr photo Jacksons Point residents charge they got little action from Townships recreation committee last Wednesday Citing conditions that currently exist along the the residents have asked the township to rebuild the government dock angry over on Point JACKSONS POINT Georgina councillor Jean Noble has denied charges that council has refused to take action on problems at the govern ment in Jacksons Point We have bent over backwards to alleviate some of the problems at the public beach Mrs Noble told the Era Monday We put In sand fill had workmen clear away the rubble after the storm Hundreds of dollars have been in vested and still they complain According to Lore a Favre of Jacksons Point council should rebuild the dock because of hazard to children wandering out to boats The rocky base impairs balance she claimed This is a public beach and we are all taxpayers- she noted Council has to decide whether or not the dock is necessary enough to warrant action She continued that the dock is not a luxury but a necessity to the community and lamented the fact that nothing will be done until spring when the new budget comes out Councillor Noble countered the charges saying this years budget was drawn up before the damage was done But we are doing everything possible to try to get a portable dock made for spring We wont suffer ice damage if that is done she said At last weeks recreation committee meeting citizens presented their complaint and were told the com mittee will recommend rebuilding the dock For the moment however no promises are being made The outcome is dependant on the spring budget the committee said Noted Mrs Noble You cant call that refusal to act AURORA The Aurora Minor Hockey Association may take over the skate sharpening business at the Com munity Centre this winter A A past president Ron Brooks presented a brief to councilincommittec last Wednesday asking that the association be allowed to operate the booth at the north end of the arfcna Mr Brooks told council the main concern with the skate sharpening concession Is that responsible people are running booth I assure you this kind of person is available he said The towns recreation department took over operation of the booth last winter after the quality of sharpening began to decline In the past the booth has been rented out to private enterprise by the town by several councillors that the association will not be allowed to go Into competition with local merchants Mr Brooks also felt the presence of someone from the association In the building during a 34- hour a week period would help control the equip ment group owns As it now stands several people hold keys to the AM1IA equipment room and if one key doesnt return at the end of the season a new lock has to be installed on door t Tow n I ikelytoact on BIA designation Mr Brooks also told council ho hopes the new enterprise will develop into a small outlet for the sale of tape pucks sticks and small souvenir pins and jewelry made to order for the association Ho said it would make the items more available and increase the associations possibility of profit on running the booth He also suggested the possibility of the sale of used equipment from the booth out was cautioned Mr Brooks assured council he has enough adults willing to man the booth over the period My only concern Is what goes out of that shop said recreation director Ernie Theres no great deal money in it Mr Brooks said the people who had offered to work the booth realized they would not be paid anywhere near an hourly rate for their services Councillor Kel Tonner asked that the association be allowed to take over the booth guaranteeing it will supply mature staff a high standard of work manship no conflict with what is sold in town run concession and operate during hours specified by the area management Mr Batson was in structed to set up negotiation with the association on a suitable rental fee for the booth AURORA Town council was expected to set in motion the legislation to create a Business Improvement Area in downtown Aurora at is regular meeting here Tuesday night Results of the meeting were not available before The Era went to press However at a council in committee meeting last week councillors moved unanimously to move ahead with the proposal from the Aurora Downtown Business and Professional Association The town will be sending each business in the designated area a registered letter in forming them that the council is preparing a necessary bylaw to put the into effect A onethird vote against the legislation can kill the BIA for two years After the letters have been circulated objectors have days before the bylaw is passed and sent to the Ontario Municipal Board The OMB should take approximately three to Employee likely to accept post KESWICK Charles appears Ukely to remain a Georgian Township employee The Era flu learned Hie former chief building Inspector lost his job Aug IS allowing ft restructuring of the building department Into a new planning and development department While the move came just days after the province had announced an audit into the building department township finance chairman Howard fialUlngton stressed that the timing was coincidental When offered a building Inspectors job at salary lets than he making as a department head Mr Chlrniide turned the offer down township then made the offer In writing with Mr again considering the reclassification He Is expected to respond with a positive reply this week four months to render approval A board of management with members of the business area and councillors will be set up to administer the operation and a budget will be collected along with the next tax levy from the town Mayor George asked that the public be assured the BIA will not be funded with money The groups entire budget will be collected through an extra amount attached to the areas business tax depending on the size of individual assessment Objectors to the are also weighed y the size of assessment Councillor Richard Isaacson who had spent at a Federation of Ontario Business Im provement Areas conference in Toronto asked council that the funding for the Aurora be included in 197B budgeting According to figures brought back from the FOBIA conference by Councillor Isaacson in Ontario have increased from last year to during 1977 The program offered under a special section of the Municipal Act now includes to individual businesses in the province i walk off job NEWMARKET A dispute over an overtime clause in their contract had workers at Bell Canadas Eagle St garage on a sit down strike as The Era went to press Tuesday morning The national office of the Communication Workers of Canada had asked its members of Local who work for Bell as cable repairmen and installers to return to work so the point could be bargained However the men remained off the job and said this dispute has come up before According to their contract the workers i nets fine NEWMARKET A 20yearold King City youth was fined a whopping or days in jail following his conviction in Provincial Court here last week on a charge of driving while under suspension Kevin of King City had pleaded guilty to the charge before Provincial Judge Witch say they are only required to work eight hours overtime each week with the rest voluntary However according to Local president Dune Beatty Bell in terprets the contract as saying the men must work at least eight hours overtime weekly Mr Beatty had recommended the men return to work so the point could be bargained but one of the workers suggested the entire garage could be shut down by noon when repairmen out oh calls have returned A shutdown for any length of time could knock out cable repair and installation from King Township of Ux- bridge and from Oak Ridges to Sutton Mr said the union believes Bell should hire more men to take care of the overtime load which is mostly on Saturdays One worker said Bell admits the garage is short staffed and added that the company should hire two more This Is not an isolated case said Mr i I V b i