BETH HINEBAUGH

WHEELING – Advocates for children want to pose a question to the public: What would a day without the availability of child care look like for them?

“A Day Without Child Care” – a town hall gathering to discuss the issue of child care and the challenges providers face in West Virginia – is set for 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Child Care Resource Center, 2000 Main St., Wheeling.

The event is being organized by the West Virginia Association For Young Children, Team for West Virginia Children, Keys 4 Healthy Kids and Moms Rising.

“The purpose of our town hall is that we are wanting to bring awareness about the state of child care in West Virginia,” explained Beth Hinebaugh, owner of Noah’s Ark Childcare and Learning Center in Wheeling.

Presently, West Virginia’s state-funded child care centers don’t get paid for the days a child enrolled there doesn’t come to school.

Earlier this year, Hinebaugh was among those lobbying the West Virginia Legislature to pass a bill that would base state reimbursement to child care centers on overall enrollment rather than daily attendance. This is needed because many children don’t attend or need daycare every day.

“We tried to pass legislation this year, but it didn’t go through,” she said. “We need to make them (legislators) understand that this is important.”

Hinebaugh was in Shepherdstown on Thursday where she was preparing to address a legislative retreat of state lawmakers who gathered at Shepherd University. She noted typically the legislators are receptive when she approaches them about the issue.

“When we’re face to face, there is positive feedback. But the bill still didn’t pass,” Hinebaugh explained.

The issues appear to be money and spending, she continued.

“There is enough money (available),” Hinebaugh explained. “It’s about how we get them to invest the money.”

Hinebaugh said the town hall would likely take place as a roundtable discussion format.

“There will be a lot of back and forth,” she said. “Our legislators will be here, and hopefully we can get the message across.”

Many child care centers have long wait lists for those wanting to enroll their children. Hinebaugh said Noah’s Ark is licensed to accommodate 116 children, and has 62 on the waiting list seeking enrollment.

She added that 46.2% of families in West Virginia do not have child care.

“Parents are winging it,” Hinebaugh said.

The child care centers, meanwhile, are in need of the full funding from the state as they need to make certain they have enough trained and qualified personnel employed.

“We are trying to attract and retain quality staff,” she said. “Without the funding … if we can’t pay people what they are worth, it’s hard to keep them.”

Additionally, the lack of child care availability could severely impact the economy, Hinebaugh continued. This is because businesses cannot operate without employees, many of whom need child care services so they can work.

“Without child care, some places wouldn’t be open,” she said. “We support all other businesses.”

This week has been the “week of the young child” in West Virginia, as designated by a proclamation signed by Gov. Jim Justice earlier this year.