There were predictions Friday that New Ulm may soon get a family day care center.

Clara Buckanaga, executive director of the Region 9 Council for Coordinated Child Care (4-C’s), told the Brown County Family Service Center Board that she expects activity on a center in the next four to six months.

She made the statement after the board voted to partially fund 4-C’s to help it meet match requirements for a 75 per cent federal grant.

IN DISCUSSION of 4-C’s request from Brown County, Welfare Director Tom Henderson also indicated that a family day care center isn’t too far down the road.

“A day care center in New Ulm is just a matter of time,” he said. “‘It’s a wonder why it’s not here now.”

Mrs. Buckanaga also indicated that 4-C’s, headquartered in Mankato, has received a number of calls from Brown County residents. There is a demand for a day care center in Brown County, she said, particularly in New Ulm.

“There appears to be a need for more choices for parents,” she said.

THE 4-C’S, started 15 months ago, provides technical and physical assistance for child care throughout the nine-county Region 9 area.

Its services include training for persons operating private day care and offering such people toys and equipment on a borrowing basis.

Henderson indicated that 4-C’s services are used a great deal in Brown County.

“We get quite a bit of expertise out of the 4-C’s to help us train our (private) day care mothers,” he said.

He also said that if a day care center is started in New Ulm, whoever starts it would need some of the expertise the 4-C’s offers.

“When and if this does come about,” he said, “the people who do this are going to need a lot of help.”

THE 4-C’S has applied for a $21,500 federal grant. To be eligible for it, Mrs. Buckanaga said, the council needs to obtain a local match of $7,500.

“It would be extremely useful to us if we could get a variety of local match from a number of different counties,” she said. Token funding from a number of counties, she said, would also help 4-C’s to show private donators that the council has broad support.

In approving a $500 donation to 4-C’s, the board noted that Brown County has a number of working mothers.

“Whether you believe in day care or not, that’s really a moot question,” Chairman Denis Warta said. “If they’re (children) going to be put some place, we have an obligation to see that that’s a good place.”

New Ulm Daily Journal

March 21, 1976