Codington Connects Tackles Child Care, Family Resources and Volunteer Needs in Watertown

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Codington Connects is continuing its efforts to connect families with local resources while gathering new information about child care challenges facing employers in the Watertown area.

During a recent Codington Connects segment on Northeast Radio SD, Sara Foust discussed the organization’s child care work, online resource hub, family-focused campaigns, and support for an effort to better connect volunteers with opportunities throughout the community.

Employer survey targets child care challenges

One of Codington Connects’ current initiatives is a child care survey specifically aimed at employers.

Foust said the organization previously received responses from more than 300 parents through a parent survey and is now looking for employers to provide insight into the child care challenges affecting them and their employees. The employer survey has been distributed through organizations that work with businesses, including the chamber, Watertown Development Company and Startup Watertown.

The effort is part of a broader examination of three issues surrounding child care: access, affordability, and quality.

Foust said current information indicates the community may be improving when it comes to having enough child care openings, although determining the total number available can be difficult because some in-home providers are not registered with the state. She also said Educare and My Little Village have capacity to accept additional children.

Affordability remains another concern.

Foust said she has spoken with parents whose child care expenses exceed their house payment and account for a significant portion of their income. For some families, the expense can influence whether a parent remains in the workforce.

“We want to give the opportunity for those parents to be out in the workforce,” Foust said. “And so we need to make child care, make sure there’s access and make sure it’s affordable.”

Quality is another piece of that discussion. Foust said the goal is for children to have safe, caring environments that provide the experiences and skills they need.

Registration can bring benefits for in-home providers

The conversation also addressed licensing and registration of in-home child care providers.

Foust explained that city licensing and state registration are separate processes. She said South Dakota does not require in-home daycares to be registered with the state, while city licensing requirements also apply locally.

Foust, who previously operated an in-home day care herself, said her experience with state registration was positive and provided access to additional resources. She said benefits can include food reimbursement and other support, while registration also involves safety-related requirements.

Codington Connects would like to see more in-home providers become registered so they can receive those resources and be easier for families to identify.

One place to find local assistance

While Codington Connects is involved in several initiatives, Foust said its fundamental purpose remains connecting people with resources.

“We were founded to make it easier to find resources in the community,” she said.

The Codington Connects website includes resources covering food, housing, mental health, child care and other community needs. It also provides activity ideas for adults, teenagers, toddlers and children. Foust encouraged residents to notify the organization if they discover information that should be corrected or updated.

The website’s local resources section also includes printable PDFs. Among them is a list of food resources available in the community. Foust cited the Salvation Army, Cornerstone Church, and The Banquet among organizations providing food assistance or meals.

Additional resources cover social services, housing support, registered child care providers, volunteer opportunities, counseling and mental health services.

Foust emphasized that Codington Connects works with community partners rather than attempting to duplicate existing efforts.

“Codington Connects isn’t doing this in isolation,” she said. “We work really closely with our partners to not reinvent the wheel, to pull things together and to make sure that we’re working with our partners to share what’s out there in the community.”

The organization also works alongside the Human Service Agency and its Family Resource Book. Foust said Codington Connects plans to further coordinate its information with the resource book and expects its website to transition to a new platform within six months.

Campaign encourages parents to focus on everyday moments

Codington Connects is also promoting its “Parents Are Superheroes” campaign, which encourages parents to recognize that meaningful time with children does not have to involve elaborate or expensive activities.

Reading a book, taking a walk, visiting a park or playing a game can all provide opportunities for parents to spend time with their children.

“You don’t have to be an amazing person to be present and to help your child have a good life,” Foust said. “Just be there, be present for them.”

Another family-oriented campaign is being developed by the organization’s HEART team, which Foust described as focusing on strengthening families and preventing abuse.

The concept involves a family “passport” encouraging families to get out and participate in activities together. Foust said the campaign is expected to be called “Snow Many Things to Do,” although the final design was still being developed. She said plans include incentives and rewards.

Volunteer Connections works toward $50,000 match

Codington Connects is also supporting Watertown Area Volunteer Connections, which Foust said is being developed as its own entity.

According to Foust, the initiative has a $50,000 matching grant. Once the organization matches that amount, she said it would essentially have one year of funding to begin the process of hiring a coordinator.

The coordinator would help connect residents with volunteer opportunities based on their interests and skills. Foust said that could extend to connecting people interested in nonprofit board service with organizations looking for board members.

She encouraged residents who want to become involved in the community not to wait for someone else to ask them.

“If you care and you have it, just step up and make a difference in the community,” Foust said.

Codington Connects also encouraged churches and other community organizations to take advantage of its resource materials and help make residents aware of assistance already available.

Residents can find the organization’s online resource information at www.CodingtonConnects.com