| A survey was prepared and
distributed to select locations in the City of Douglas. The
survey included questions that sought to determine parents need
for child care services, what type of services, the days of the
week and time of day when services are needed, and how much
parents would be willing to pay for childcare services.
PPC also interviewed
representatives of primary employers in Converse County.
Information from these employers was sought to help determine
the type and extent of demand for daycare services, as well as
issues that may be relevant to the delivery of daycare services.
A questionnaire for licensed
daycare providers was prepared and distributed to obtain actual
enrollments in their daycare facility by age level, hours of
operation, prices for child care services, plans for facility
expansion, and the potential impact a new 24-hour daycare
facility might have on their child care operation. Some
licensed daycare providers were personally interviewed while
others were contacted by telephone.
Existing enrollment information
was used to help determine existing childcare demands for each
age group. PPC developed a statistical model to help calculate
future child care demands for three potential service areas:
the City of Douglas, a greater zip code area, and Converse
County.
The potential costs and revenues
associated with the operation of a 24-hour child care facility
were evaluated through the determination of operation and
facility criteria. Available criteria was researched and
confirmed with recognized child care providers, as well as
regional and national child care organizations.
PPC analyzed the feasibility of
the operation through the preparation of a balance sheet, as
well as profit loss and cash flow statements, that were used to
examine start-up and working capital requirements. Alternate
strategies for the organizational structure of the child care
provider were also recommended.
Price information was correlated
with responses from the household survey concerning what parents
are willing to pay for daycare services. This information was
correlated with available household income data to examine the
potential affordability of child care service rates that would
be necessary to sustain the child care operation. |
