'Child care deserts' impacting families in Jasper and Newton counties

High quality child care centers in Jasper and Newton counties are few and far between.

And far between.

But as news 18's joe paul reports, investments in more child care spots could provide an economic boost to the area.

< nat pop right steps goodland child care center opened its doors about two weeks ago.

But parts of jasper and newton counties are still considered child care deserts.

"there has been a need for quite a while, i definitely agree with that."

Tiffany stigers is head start director for kankakee-iroquois regional planning commission.

Which operates four head start facilities in jasper and newton counties.

She says nearly three thousand children under the age of five live in the two counties.

"there are definitely a lot of children not being served or going to a child care or preschool in those counties."

But families have just six licensed child care centers to choose from.

That could deter sought-after workers from taking root in the area.

Says brienne hooker, executive director of the jasper newton foundation.

"school systems and education that are available are the first thing that families look for, besides a job, when they move here.

We have a lot of manufacturing in this end of the county and they're hiring all the time."

Right steps president and ceo debi debruyn says the shortage is so bad newton county government invested 375-thousand dollars in the goodland center.

"quite frankly, it's very unusual that county government will be that committed to child development and early learning in a community."

Jasper county is projected to add 434 more children under the age of five in the next five years.

Right steps hopes to add more spots in 20-21 with a new rensselaer location.

"this is not enough.

We anticipate expanding.

We're going to have to expand."

And that might turn this child care desert into an oasis.

Nat pop joe paul, news 18.

Local businesses, non- profits and people living in goodland partnered beginning in 2018 to add the child care center.

It's grand opening and ribbon cutting was earlier this month.

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