low comprehension adults?

[Zoe Girl]

Hi all, ya know it is me again.

I have been trying to get some families into our program (before and after school care) and one of the things I run into is adults who really do not understand. As a unique site out of our many sites I am kinda working out the kinks in the system, so we are trying to bring in more families that really need care to a system based on parent tuition, but bring that amount down to their income level. Still some of the issues are simply about comprehension. I have had 2 families who brought a child 1 day, then didn't come back, I ran around trying to find the child because I am responsible for them after school and found out they decided it was too expensive or that the child didn't like it, so they just told the child to go with a friend. Yesterday I had another family that cannot give me more than one phone number, no friends, no family, each have a job but apparently they don't know the number, plus the paystubs were incomplete, no name printed or pay periods listed. After working through some of that the mom exclaims she didn't know she would have to pay anything. The top amount for her would be $65 a month, most likely less, and both parents are employed.

I am thinking of making everyone who wants to sign up set an appointment with me to register. I know that will mean I won't get as many families or reach everyone I am trying to but I need some middle ground. I know others here work with families that are struggling. Any wonderful advice? i am not a social worker so this is kinda a new issue for me. But just saying no to these families is not our best option either.

[rodeosweetheart]

Maybe they are not low comprehension, but not trusting of your system? I would have been turned off by an afterschool program that required complete paystubs. We only had one phone number--no cell phone, and you could not have contacted me easily at work and I floated departments (retail)==I did not have an office or a phone. Maybe your application process is burdensome, or makes people nervous, as to how the information you gather will be used?

Just thinking of other possibilities beyond low comprehension. . .


[QUOTE=Zoe Girl;103731]Hi all, ya know it is me again.

I have been trying to get some families into our program (before and after school care) and one of the things I run into is adults who really do not understand. As a unique site out of our many sites I am kinda working out the kinks in the system, so we are trying to bring in more families that really need care to a system based on parent tuition, but bring that amount down to their income level. Still some of the issues are simply about comprehension. I have had 2 families who brought a child 1 day, then didn't come back, I ran around trying to find the child because I am responsible for them after school and found out they decided it was too expensive or that the child didn't like it, so they just told the child to go with a friend. Yesterday I had another family that cannot give me more than one phone number, no friends, no family, each have a job but apparently they don't know the number, plus the paystubs were incomplete, no name printed or pay periods listed. After working through some of that the mom exclaims she didn't know she would have to pay anything. The top amount for her would be $65 a month, most likely less, and both parents are employed.

I am thinking of making everyone who wants to sign up set an appointment with me to register. I know that will mean I won't get as many families or reach everyone I am trying to but I need some middle ground. I know others here work with families that are struggling. Any wonderful advice? i am not a social worker so this is kinda a new issue for me. But just saying no to these families is not our best option either.[/QUOTE

[Zoe Girl]

That is an interesting perspective. The afterschool programs like a once a week art class do not have have as much. I still want a more than one phone number any time I care for a child. It could be a relative or neighbor. I have been there before, being new in an area and needing to meet people quickly. With other people with children however you tend to build up some relationships or have someone understand. When I floated around I would give a general supervisors number with their permission knowing they were only calling in emergency. I talked to both mom and dad, I did explain that I would be more likely to call emergency services for a moderate injury if I can't reach them.


Unfortunately this is the minimum required by the state to care for their child in a licensed setting. There is really nothing on the form that we don't need. 3 sides of paper information, immunizations which I will get from the school and one page financial. I don't have to ask for a pay stub if they don't want financial assistance. By the last call I think they were just going to drop him off 2 hours before school started to wander on the playground rather than consider whatever rate I come back with. I did put in the paperwork and told our decision maker the situation so hopefully we can get a low rate (we really do give some very affordable rates, like $10 a month per child for before and after school everyday) and get this kid inside. Meanwhile the security guard is letting him sit in her office so I won't get shut down if licensing visits.


I guess I could be looking at this from a limited perspective, I have about 4 families I am trying to work with and not having luck, so I will keep gathering information

[rodeosweetheart]

That is really rough, that the poor little girl gets sent anyway and has nowhere to be. And rough on you, too, if licensing then blames you for her presence!

Your rates sound incredibly reasonable and I can see how frustrating it is when people can't or won't abide by the process to get the child accepted.

There a lot of families who fear social services/school authorities for a variety of reason, so maybe this might be behind their lack of compliance?

[decemberlov]

Those prices are fantastic!! We were paying $95.00 a month average for just an after school program, not before school as well. Sometimes more depending on how many 1/2 days there were in the month etc.
I would do anything I needed to to make sure all my info was in and filled out correctly so that my kids could be cared for. I honestly don't see what the issue is, unless possibly some of them are purposely not giving complete pay stubs in hopes that they will get a cheaper rate for the kids, trying to show that they make less than they really do???
I don't get it, when it comes to your children, you do anything and everything you need to to make sure they are taken care of. No excuses.

[rodeosweetheart]

Zoe, if you went to the appointment method, you could fill out the forms with their verbal input. Maybe that would be less threatening, or confusing, if they are indeed low comprehension. You could look at the forms and approve or disapprove them?

If they take to dropping kids off at your site, to wander the playground, then you probably need some kind of defensive strategy involving the school admin and the security guard?

Then, maybe a systemic reminder from the school that unattended children are not allowed to play on the playground after school?

December, maybe they don't want to show paystubs because they are working illegally and fear social services will get involved in their lives.

Just a thought.

[SteveinMN]

maybe they don't want to show paystubs because they are working illegally and fear social services will get involved in their lives.
Honestly, that's just what I was thinking when I read that. That would explain why they operate in an informational vacuum -- incomplete paystubs, little to no info about where they work, who supervises them, how they can be reached, or who else might get asked questions about their family's living and working conditions. It's certainly understandable that financial information is requested when assistance is being offered, but that might be a figurative price higher than those families want to pay.

[Zoe Girl]

Quickie update, we got the kid in at $45 a month for mornings and he started today. I finally accepted the one phone number since it is before school instead of after, so we do not need to deal with a late pick up or emergencies when no one has access to the school office.

This family is English speaking so I don't think we had an illegal work situation, however I am aware of that for even people who just work for cash. We ask for something, such as a letter from the people they work for, however I don't want to make it harder. Legal working status is not something I want to deny a family for. It has been informative to hear what others say.

[rodeosweetheart]

Quickie update, we got the kid in at $45 a month for mornings and he started today. I finally accepted the one phone number since it is before school instead of after, so we do not need to deal with a late pick up or emergencies when no one has access to the school office.

This family is English speaking so I don't think we had an illegal work situation, however I am aware of that for even people who just work for cash. We ask for something, such as a letter from the people they work for, however I don't want to make it harder. Legal working status is not something I want to deny a family for. It has been informative to hear what others say.

Way to go-- a great outcome for both the family and the program!

[cdttmm]

Zoe Girl -- one additional idea that might be of use in these more challenging situations. If there is a school guidance counselor, s/he may be able to help you get the info that you need or may be able to give you some background on the family (without crossing the line if there are confidentiality concerns). Another possible explanation for a lack of additional contact info is that you may have a situation where you have a family living in a shelter and they are hesitant to reveal their current lack of housing and don't want you in touch with anyone who might accidentally share that info with you or others.