An Iowa childcare expert says lawmakers need to establish tougher regulations and more inspections for day care providers. Childcare Resource and Referral Center consultant Karen Thelin says 57 percent of Iowa kids are in unregulated day care. She says that should make all of use nervous, as there is no other business in the state that doesn’t have regulation.Thelin says while some of those kids are being cared for by a relative, most are with an unlicensed stranger. Even registered day care providers can’t be deemed safe, according to Thelin, because there are few inspections.Legislators are debating which state agency should inspect day care providers, but Thelin says that’s a moot point since there’s little money to finance the reviews — and few sanctions once a day care provider is found to be in the wrong.
