Getting tried of waiting....venting

[BlueRose]

I have an 18 month old dcg who hasn't started yet. I interviewed her and her mom back in early October. They are coming through one of my agencies and need subsidy.
They meet with subsidy on Oct 17, they where told they needed some paper work for the gov. which will take up to 7 business days. They should have started by the beginning of November. (they were looking for care to start asap). its now the 2nd week of November and not a word.

My adviser is going to give then until the end of the week to let us know if they are still coming or not. I can not keep holding the spot. Since they are with an agency I do not get a holding fee.

I have had people asking if I had a spot for their kids under two.I have been saying no, since I thought she would be here by now. I am now going to start interview if any one else asks, just in case.

I need at least one more full time to make ends meet. This sucks.

I am hoping that this will all work out one way or another.

Thanks for letting me vent. :)

[Crayola kiddies]

This red tape is the problem with agencies .... You could have had the spot filled already.... If it were me I would fill it myself letting the agency know you cannot wait for them unless they want to pay you for a spot sitting empty .... I am not with an agency and I am full and I have had to turn people away and I too am in Ottawa

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yup this is why I am no longer with an agency ~ it just never worked as the agency was never able to get any referrals cause my policy is that I do not 'hold' spots without income specially PREMIUM INFANT ONES ... so I was always able to secure a private client before the agency could get through all the red tape to even get eligible people for me to interview ... we never even made it to the jumping through all the hoops to actually get them STARTED and me to be getting income from their spot.

Almost 3 years with the agency and not ONE client came through them ... all private so I finally just gave up the contract with them!

[Inspired by Reggio]

Personally I would be telling your adviser you cannot turn other interested clients away ~ you are going to enroll the first person to PAY for the spot and this other person can go on the waiting list until they get their act together!

Honestly dealing with clients who need subsidy is one of the largest challenges in licensed care because so much is dependent on them properly filling out the forms and showing proper documentation ~ minute they do not they loose the subsidy and get yanked out of program with bare minimum paid notice to the provider if any depending on your agencies contract!

When I worked in administration the amount of times where a client would do something to 'loose' their subsidy either not informing the government of a change in financial situation, not filing proper paper work, quitting school or what not and not inform the centre and we would keep providing CARE cause we did not know any better and than find out weeks after that the government was no longer PAYING for it because they pay AFTER the fact so depending it could be a full month before you submit your 'bill' to the government and them to say 'oh did you not get a memo ~ sorry that client is no longer eligible' and well we would than be OUT the money because the client would bolt when you confronted them that they owed you a months worth of fees and you would be left having to try to go after in small claims court and well they had no money anyway so what was the point!

[BlueRose]

Yep, from now on its going to be the first to pay is the one to get the spot. I can't afford this waiting game. The other two dck's are also through agencies, but it only took a few days to a week before they were in my care. Not really sure what is going on here, I just feel like I am being screwed. I will hopefully get some interviews lined up soon. I am now wishing I had gone ahead and interviewed all the parents that asked over the last two weeks if I had a spot for their kids. I know for next time, I will just keep interviewing until the child is in care.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Yup ~ moving I would never wait on the premium space since you are only allowed two under the age of two they fill quick and fast ... if they have not already done everything they NEED TO on their end subsidy wise so they can start ASAP than I would keep interviewing and take the first client who HAS done their part.

[dodge__driver11]

I agree with Reggio

[BlueRose]

I agree with Reggio too. This is just one of many lessons I am going to learn. Now I know: don't wait.

[Crayola kiddies]

Can you reconnect the families that contacted you recently cause really they maybe still searching

[BlueRose]

I wish. I made the mistake of deleting their emails and I cleaned out my deleted section a few days ago. I checked the other day. From now on I will put all emails in to a folded for on month and ask if the parents would like to be added to a waiting list.

[Momof4]

Vent away all you need Valerie. We've all said it before - the first year is hell, but you learn a lot of very valuable lessons. Luck to you.

[BlueRose]

So I just checked my "sent folder" in my email and there were the emails I sent out to the parents looking for care. so I re:emailed them telling them that it looks like I have a spot opening up for a child under 2. I have my figures crossed.

I spoke with my adviser today. She has left messages for the parents of the 18 month old, telling then that they have until this Friday to let her know what is going on. They still have not called her back. My adviser is going to try getting a hold of them again today. If they have not called back by Friday, then I will fill the spot with someone else.
My adviser also asked if I would take on another after school kid. I said I would interview them and go from there. I can use the money and its only after school. My b&a boy will be happy. The kid will be coming to and from the bus stop by himself. I am just waiting for the mom to call me.

I am just hoping everything works out okay.

[Mamma_Mia]

Good luck hun as I'm in the same "waiting" boat as you are...

[Crayola kiddies]

Will you have to provide full days for summer, PA days and Xmas and march break? Cause if you do then this b and a child will take up a full time spot unless you can find a teacher to fill up the school year .... This is why a lot providers do not like school age kids not to mention the attitude.

[Inspired by Reggio]

Agree with Crayola ... while a before or after might seem good now to fill a spot and get you income ... unless they are truly 'sharing' a spot with someone else you need to think of the long term income that will be lost because the child is taking a 'space' in your program if they are needing care on all non school days as well ... sometimes it is better to forgo a few hundred dollars NOW by having a space for a couple weeks than forgoing the THOUSANDS by taking a before and after school child.

[BlueRose]

I can only have 5 kids, 5 yrs and under including my own, so I can only have 3 dc kids under the age of 5, since mine are 11 m and 3 1/2 yrs. so if I want 5 daycare kids then 2 have to be 6 yrs or over until my kids turn 6yrs.
Right now having b&a makes sense money wise.

I do have an interview at 10 today.

As for P.A.Days and the summer, I will manage, not sure how for the summer, but I will find away.

my 9 yr dcb has this Friday and next Monday off. This Friday he will be here 8:30 to 12:30pm and his dad will keep him home on Monday. I get paid for full days so I don't mind. :)

[Crayola kiddies]

Oh I see that's another reason why I wouldn't go with an agency then if I have to count my own kids in the ratio....I only have one at home till next sept but still that's a loss if income.

[BlueRose]

i wish I didn't need to work with an agency, but I am all my clients so far are subsidized. I just can't seem to find any private clients right now.

I have 2 more interviews lined up, one this afternoon and one on Sunday.

When I started the daycare the plan was to only have 3 dck's so for me any B&A school times are just extra money (once I fill my 2 remaining full time spots) to help pay down the bills faster.

[kidlove]

Don't forget even when you turn someone away, you should ask if you can take their name and number just incase something opens sooner than you expected, and then you can go to that list and start looking for replacements/new clients. Good Luck!

[BlueRose]

Don't forget even when you turn someone away, you should ask if you can take their name and number just incase something opens sooner than you expected, and then you can go to that list and start looking for replacements/new clients. Good Luck!

thank you for reminding me. Yes I will make sure I do that.

my first interview to day went well. It lasted almost an hour. they seem like a good fit. One more interview later today and one on Sunday.

[kidlove]

Good for you!!! Something has to come from them all. :thumbsup: