Getting 2 kids to 2 different campus childcare locations

Assuming my two kids (1 and 3) get into UC childcare next year while I go to grad school, I'm trying to figure out how to get the kids and myself to school every morning. Here's my problem -- how do I get two kids to two different childcare locations and then get myself to North Gate? It seems like it would be too hard using public transportation, but if I drove, where would I park? sf

This is SORELY lacking, almost to the point of being a crime. When I told other folks (off campus, and/or in other states) that no such thing existed for staff, no one would believe me. Certainly if such a facility existed, I would have been happy to check it out. But for me, it would have to be more flexible than the current one at the Child Study Center, which as I recall does not accept part time kids, and doesn't accept infants at all. On the other hand, ANYTHING would be better than the near complete lack of service that we as staff see now. If there's a petition to sign, I'd sign it, even though by the time anything would happen it would be far too late to serve me. But I'd gladly help other people to avoid the stress I went through!

Date: Mon, 8 Jul 1996 11:14:44 -0700
To: Ginger Ogle From: Peter Jacobson
Subject: Re: UCB Parents mailing list info

Ginger,

Thank you for the note, and I am glad to clear up any confusion about the child care services available for faculty and staff as best I can. The answers appear directly below each question that you posed. Please stay in touch if you have further questions.

Peter Jacobson
Director, Child Care Services

>Dear Peter,
>I administer a mailing list for campus parents as well as the UC
>Berkeley Parents web server at http://parents.berkeley.edu
>
>Recently there has been a discussion on the mailing list about
>university child care for staff. About 75% of the 325 parents on my list
>are campus staff. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what, if
>anything, is offered to staff in the way of childcare.  For example, one
>parent wrote:
>        "I was under the impression for a long time that UCB
>        childcare is not available to staff. That is not entirely
>        true, though you certainly would think so from looking at
>        their brochures and application forms, which requests
>        things like reg card number but not employee information."
>
>I did recently come across the Child Care Services Web page at
>http://housing.berkeley.edu/child/child.html, which I plan to link to
>from the UCB Parents web page and also tell my mailing list about. But I
>would like to get a little more info from you that I can pass on to the
>parents on my list.  Could you answer these questions for me?
>

>- Is the Child Study Center the only facility open to staff?

While this is generally true, ocassionally space in the other programs
becomes available if there are no student families on our waiting list for
those services. For instance, next academic year, we are advertising for
staff and faculty children, kindegarten through third grade, for our
Afterschool Program at Clark Kerr Campus.  This is due to low enrollment at
the present time. We will enroll faculty and staff children on a space
available basis, once all student families have been offered care and
enrolled.


>- If there are others, which ones?

See above. On other rare ocassions, we may take other children from faculty
and staff families on a space available basis.

>- How and when should parents enroll their children in the Child Study
>Ctr?

The applications are available year round, by calling 642-7031, ask for
Randi or Maria.  They are logged in upon receipt. We do our admissions
process in January and February for the following August.  If vacancies
occur, we do fill them on an on-going basis.

>- What is the University Preschool?

This is the true and most recent name for the Child Study Center programs.
Most campus folks still think of this program as the Child Study Center,
which has been its traditional name for many years.

>- Does the Child Study Center operate year round?

Yes. There is a short break in August for clean-up, planning and
orientation of new families.

>- Do the other centers operate year round?

No. We do not receive State or Registration Fee funding to operate during
the summer period. We are generally closed in the student program from
approximately June 1 through August 14 each year.

>- Is part time care available at any of the staff centers?

No, given the intense demand for full time care, this has not been a
priority for us.

>- Is any childcare available to staff for children under 3?

Not at this time. However, we are working hard to plan a small program for
toddler aged children of faculty and staff as part of our long term
planning. The hard part is finding subsidy for the cost of running a
toddler program.  Absent a subsidy, the amount of parent fee that we would
have to charge would exceed the capabilities of most parents. The space
issue is also difficult, but not nearly as difficult as securing subsidies
for lower income staff.

>- Are there any afterschool childcare programs for staff?

See above. There is space for the 1996/97 academic year, and interested
parents should apply by calling 642-1827 for an application.

>
>If the Child Study Center is the only staff facility, and enrollment is
>limited to 48 three and four year olds, then that would mean that only
>24 slots are available each year to staff children. Is this situation
>likely to change anytime soon?  Are there any plans to expand childcare
>facilities for staff?

A small expansion for eight children that will include access for staff and
faculty children is planned. I will let you know as our planning continues
to develop in this area.  Sometime during 1997 , depending upon space
availability, we may be able to open such a program.

I was under the impression for a long time that UCB childcare is not available to staff. That is not entirely true, though you certainly would think so from looking at their brochures and application forms, which requests things like reg card number but not employee information.

What I have been told is that it's open to students, faculty, and staff, but that students get the priority. Also, some openings are subsidized and some are not; as a working person, you will probably not qualify for the subsidized spots, but the competition is less for the full-fee spots.

The biggest problem with UCB child care is that it's only open during the academic year, so if you work year-round, you will be searching for child care during big blocks of the summer, winter holidays, and spring break. To me, this was the single factor that made it not worthwhile.

... And I agree with you about the University ... they need to enter the 90s and start providing good childcare for staff BEFORE the babies turn 3! (I understand that age 3, children of staff are eligible for UC childcare.)

What are my Chances for Getting into UC Childcare?

Is there anyone who could give me some tips and help me speculate as to the chances of getting my son into UC childcare this Fall? I already applied, was told that I am on waiting list as #11, and that I could not know where I stood until July. Since I need an answer sooner, are there any parents/staff out there who can answer the following questions? 1. Realistically, how likely is #11 to get in? He'll be 1 year old in August.
2. On their sliding scale, what is the formula they use, so I can calculate costs and compare to my alternative arrangements?
3. I applied as subsidized (I am a GSI) and unbelievably they put me on unsubsidized w.l. What is the income cutoff, and/or see question 3?
4. Other comments?
Basically, I need to reach a decision soon as to what we are going to do (stay with our shared sitter at FT $940, or not) and I just don't have the elements to do so. Thanks anyone who can shed at least tenuous light on this very frustrating problem.

On the other hand, I think this is worth your persistence. The infant/toddler center and the wabbler room are excellent. My daughter did not get in the first time we applied, but after we dropped our income for 3 down to $1300/month we did get in totally subsidized. She was then 18 mos. old, and went into the wabbler room. This year our income was $1450/ month for three and we were still totally subsidized.

I remember being was so frustrated with the mysteriousness and unfairness of the admission processs. I didn't even get a waitlist number. I could not call to ask about my status without crying, so I gave up. Perhaps the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" in this situation, but be very careful not to offend. Good Luck!

2. Cost - we were completely "unsubsidized", and it cost us $13.75 (approx.) per day for four hours - cheaper than anything else that we could find, including day care centers, group day cares, and family day cares. If you factor in the hot meals that they provide, I don't think you can beat the value.

3. Unsubsidized may be easier to get into, so this might not be such a bad thing.

Getting into UC Childcare:

Remember that the time, i.e. how long you have been on the waiting list is
completely irrelevant to your ranking.  The factors are, not necessarily in
this order nor exhaustively listed:

- both parents, if two parent family, must be occupied full time
  (recognized "training," work, or actively seking work- in latter case, one
  or two months are given).  Note too that these occupation musr be daytime
  ones,
- one parent must be registered as student (remember that parents are
  allowed half time student-status, in which case that parent needs another
  half time occupation).

Now for the tricky part:
- having siblings for the child who you are trying to place, that is, I
  guess, if you have two or more children to place, gives you some priority.
  Also, a new born whose sibling is already at a UC center has some priority,
- LOW INCOME.  The key, in my experience to GETTING IN.  Here a principle I
  learned as an independant undergrad w/ financial aid applies:  it pays to
  make yourself dirt poor for one semester.  That can help you get in, most
  likely fully subsidized: anyone in top ranking on list is bound to be
  taking in very little money, or at least, to state so on the application
  ... In this situation,having rich parents, say, who can buy you that car
  you desperately need, helps a great deal: in addition to getting a freebie,
  you don't have to generate the income to buy it yourself, and that would
  have put you at an unsurmountable disadvantage in the ranking.

Unfortunately, moreover, UCB Child Care Services has a huge
drawback, that the same office at another UC doesn't: they count loan money
as income.  You see, after I had lost my TAship elsewhere, my income in
their eyes went to zero even though I took out a loan, the cost of which
will be mitigated both in dollars and mostly, in saved stress, by having
had my son taken into the daycare thanks to this apparently adverse
situation.  A key thing to remember is: ONCE YOUR CHILD IS ACCEPETD INTO UC
CHILDCARE HE/SHE IS IN FOR GOOD if you maintain student status and full
time occupation, regardless of whether you become a millionaire afterwards.
The latter situation would simply modify your fees once you apprise the
office of the change.

Finally, in my experience, like everything on our campus, the full time
requirement can be made to be widely interpreted or stated.  I don't think
that all parents of all the children in UC childcare centers are always
officially "occupied" 40 hrs a week ...

Persistence, a polite phone call once every two weeks, is always good.
Also, talk to people and gather as much info on how the whole system works.
We had our son ranked #13 when he was 2 1/2 in the fall, and he was
accepted in the spring.  I don't remember our (3 person family) income
then, but it was about what a GSI makes. Good luck!

July 1999