Thu Sep 02 2010
Local man fights for quality childcare
by Emily Canning-Dean
Reporter
Twinsburg -- Since 1998, when his 5-month old daughter died from injuries she received at an unregulated family child care home, Twinsburg resident Lawrence Hall has worked to improve conditions and create accountability at child care facilities in Ohio.
Last month, he traveled to Washington, D.C., as part of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, to urge lawmakers to continue providing funding for Ohio child care facilities.
"The Child Care Development Block Grant is funding that states already receive," said Hall, who serves on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association. "Our goal was to urge representatives and senators to sponsor a bill re-authorizing this funding, but we also want to see language of the bill changed to require more inspections of professional child care facilities."
While in the nation's capital, Hall spoke with U.S. Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-14) and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and shared with legislators his story of the loss of his daughter.
"Legislators talk to special interest groups every day, so our group wanted to make our conversation with them was memorable. They thought the best way to do that would be to bring along parents who could share their stories," Hall said.
"Hall's story is tragic, but clearly demonstrates the need for improved standards and oversight of child care," said Linda Smith, executive director of NACCRRA. "It is our hope that through Hall and other parents, we can finally get this message across to policy makers."
Hall said he has worked with lawmakers before to implement policies on childcare.
In 2004, Hall helped write and gather information for Ohio House Bill 11, which requires professional childcare providers to disclose information about the deaths of children in their care. The bill, which the Ohio legislature passed in 2005, also mandates that childcare providers disclose the number of children in their care.
Hall said he is currently working with OCCRRA to find sponsorship for a bill in the Ohio House that would require all child care providers in the state to be licensed.
E-mail: ecanning@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3172
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