Parents Still Struggle to Find Day Cares Almost a Year After May Tornado
By: Katie Love
Updated: May 4, 2012
JOPLIN, MO -- If you have a little one who needs looking after, finding a day care in
Joplin may be a challenge.
Many child care facilities are still at capacity almost a year after the storm.
Some with several parents just hoping to get a spot.
"We have been full with a waiting list right now as it is," Dinosaur Academy teacher Tabitha Bailey says.
Out of twelve day cares destroyed by the tornado, Dinosaur Academy is one of five who has rebuilt, while four have decided not to, and three are still undecided.
"We had to replace flooring we had to redo some of our walls," Bailey says.
Two days after the storm they moved into a vacant doctor's office and business was slow.
"Mom didn't have jobs dad didn't have jobs they didn't have cars they were basically walking," Bailey says.
That didn't last long. Just weeks later, they were turning kids away at the door.
"Our parents are wonderful because they are grateful because they have a spot for their child," Bailey says.
While parent, Terah Duley says finding a place to take care of her three-year old became almost impossible after May 22nd.
"It's hard to have a job and go to work when you have no one to watch you're kids," parent Terah Duley says.
Though Duley says the day care shortage in Joplin was even a problem before the storm.
"A lot of places don't except things like state pay and are so expensive that it took me a while to find this one," Duley says.
Some child care owners say infant and toddler care has been a problem since before the tornado.
One facility in Joplin has a wait list until next February.
Many child care facilities are still at capacity almost a year after the storm.
Some with several parents just hoping to get a spot.
"We have been full with a waiting list right now as it is," Dinosaur Academy teacher Tabitha Bailey says.
Out of twelve day cares destroyed by the tornado, Dinosaur Academy is one of five who has rebuilt, while four have decided not to, and three are still undecided.
"We had to replace flooring we had to redo some of our walls," Bailey says.
Two days after the storm they moved into a vacant doctor's office and business was slow.
"Mom didn't have jobs dad didn't have jobs they didn't have cars they were basically walking," Bailey says.
That didn't last long. Just weeks later, they were turning kids away at the door.
"Our parents are wonderful because they are grateful because they have a spot for their child," Bailey says.
While parent, Terah Duley says finding a place to take care of her three-year old became almost impossible after May 22nd.
"It's hard to have a job and go to work when you have no one to watch you're kids," parent Terah Duley says.
Though Duley says the day care shortage in Joplin was even a problem before the storm.
"A lot of places don't except things like state pay and are so expensive that it took me a while to find this one," Duley says.
Some child care owners say infant and toddler care has been a problem since before the tornado.
One facility in Joplin has a wait list until next February.
