About a dozen people gathered at the Johnson County Public Library on Saturday to learn how to start a child care businesses.
Several area organizations led people through the process of starting a business, obtaining proper licenses and getting certified to care for young children.
It's part of an effort to support low-income families in Johnson County, says Chris Schneweis, a senior management analyst with the Johnson County manager’s office.
He says a work group at the county Board of Commissioners identified a need for more at-home child care providers.
“There is a significant gap with infant child care, so that’s kind of who we’d really like to recruit, is get people to understand where that gap is and hopefully they would be interested in filling that gap,” Schneweis says.
For attendees who complete the necessary steps, Johnson County will pay the $100 licensing fee.
Isabel Gutierrez, with Olathe Parents as Teachers. says this presents a great opportunity for the growing population of Latinos in Johnson County.
“For those women and couples that wish to start their business and be self-employed,” says Gutierrez, who was handing out materials in English and Spanish. She says quality child care providers better prepare children for school.
Lisa Rodriguez is a reporter and producer at KCUR 89.3 Connect with her on Twitter @larodrig.
