No more kidding around

Amy R. Spurgeon

ORANGE COAST COLLEGE -- Money and staffing problems have forced the

temporary closure of the college’s evening child care program, leaving

students with young children to scramble for other baby-sitting options.

Full-time OCC student and single mother Sierra Rosa will not be able

to take on a part-time job. That means she and her 3-year-old daughter

will only be able to afford the basics.

“All I can afford right now is rent and food,” said Rosa, 20, of

Huntington Beach. “Rice, beans and vegetables. That’s about it.”

The Harry and Grace Steele Children’s Center stopped offering its

evening child care two weeks ago. Lucy Groetsch, the center’s director,

said she shut down the night program because she couldn’t find a

qualified candidate to run it and was uncertain about funding.

The center is still searching for staff members. However, evening

child care will resume in the spring, thanks to private donations.

Until then, Groetsch said students who use the service are uncertain

what to do.

“My parents were upset and asked what they could do,” Groetsch said.

“Those keeping their night courses will have to ask a neighbor or friend

to help with child care.”

OCC’s children’s center opened in 1969 and began providing evening

care in 1997. The fee for child care at the center is subsidized for

students enrolled in at least six units of classes each semester.

The child care center has also been hit with an unexpected low number

of toddlers in its program this semester. The state distributes funds on

a child-by-child basis, so a dip in enrollment means a loss in funding,

Groetsch.

“Maybe it’s because students are younger and right out of high school,

or that teen pregnancy is down. But that’s a good thing,” Groetsch said.

With the help of concerned parent volunteers, Groetsch will distribute

fliers around campus next week to publicize the openings at the center

for children ages 3 to 5.

“The idea of having funded care might encourage some people to go to

school,” Groetsch said. “Even if it’s just to fine-tune their computer

skills or for job enhancement.”

FYI

For more information, call the Harry and Grace Steele Children’s

Center at (714) 432-5569.