The problem of finding child care for working families is more than just an inconvenience. According to a recent report by the child–care advocacy group Ready Nation, child care problems nationwide result in more than three BILLION dollars in lost productivity for American companies every year. At a gathering of business leaders today (Tuesday) in Carterville, officials discussed ways to fight this problem, including making the public more aware of the Child Care Resource and Referral agency. The non–profit has been providing a variety of help for working families for 28 years, serving the 15 counties in southernmost Illinois. Jonathon Hallberg, Executive Director of the Jefferson County Development Corporation in Mt. Vernon added that this lost productivity includes parents who are at work, BUT who could be worrying about the quality of their child care.
Lori Longueville, Director of Child Care Resource and Referral says families can call her office 985–5975.
