Iowa State University’s extension department recently completed a survey of licensed commercial childcare providers, and is now doing the same for in-home providers. Kathlene Larsen is directing the survey in which they took a list of some 10-thousand providers and randomly selected 18-hundred. She says the surveys asks about the person’s training, how many kids they care for and if they register their operation with the state. Larsen says they also want some insight into the attitudes of home providers.They ask general information about their working conditions, whether they view childcare as a long-term career, and what they charge. Larsen says the information from the providers will be used only for the survey and their names won’t be revealed. She says it’s key for those who get a survey to complete it and turn it in.She says it’s important for as many people as possible to turn in the surveys so they can get a good picture of childcare in the state. Larsen says there’s been a lot of speculation about in-home childcare, and the survey will hopefully shed more light on the issue.
