Toddler

Troubles

the synagogue's 7:30 a.m. start time `—\
— 30 minutes later than the JCC —
means she would be more likely to get
caught in rush-hour traffic on the way
he infant-toddler and nurs-
to her job in downtown Detroit.
ery school programs at the
It will be more difficult, she said, to
Jewish Community Center
provide
for her 9-month-old twins.
in Oak Park are closing July
"It's
not
easy to find a trustworthy
1, leaving the parents of children in
sitter," she said. "I'm not sure if I'm
the programs angry and confused.
comfortable with leaving them with
The service at the JCC's Jimmy
someone I don't really know."
Prentis Morris Building was licensed
Temple Emanu-El officials are not
for 35 children when it started five
planning to reinstate infant care,
years ago, but it never drew more than
dropped a few years back. "We didn't
30 and, faced with competition from a
have room for it because it required a
similar -program next door at Temple
lot of space because of cribs and other
Emanu-El, now has shrunk to 21.
"The numbers have been dwindling necessary equipment," associate direc-
tor Amy Bone explained.
there," said JCC Executive Director
The closing of the JCC day care
David Sorkin, adding that the pro-
program will not affect the baby-sitting
grams need between 35 and 40 chil-
dren to cover the full $200,000 cost of program, which JCC members can use
when they are working out for an hour
the service.
or two. Baby sitting will fall under the
Ending the programs would save
auspices of recreation services.
almost $80,000 in projected losses this
JCC officials said they have tried
year, he said, noting the JCC of
various options to make
Metropolitan Detroit is
the JPM programs viable.
under community pressure
David Cripps of
Fredelle Schneider,
to be fiscally responsible.
Huntington Woods
director of the JCC's child r \ /
"There are better ways to
spends a moment
development center, said
spend money on larger
with 16-month-old
that, at the urging of par-
numbers," he said.
daughter Tatiana at
ents,
the Center split the
That logic did not move
the Oak Park JPM
classrooms
into two age
Karen Hess, who has three
infant playroom.
groups — one for 2- and
children in the infant-tod-
3-year-olds, the other for 4-
dler program.
and 5-year-olds. But when the contest
"I couldn't believe it and I still don't,"
didn't get enough children to sustain
she said. "It will be so hard for us."
either separate room, they recombined c
She and her husband Marc said the
the facility — and that caused one fam-
JPM program was a significant part of
ily to take its child out, Sorkin recalled.
their buying a home in Oak Park when
He said infant care, which costs $975
they moved from Philadelphia two years
a month for five full days a week of care,
ago. "The JCC was right there and we
was always intended as a "loss leader"
knew the program was good," she said.
that would get families into the facility
The JPM infant care program, which
in hopes they would stay as their chil-
has 11 kids in it, is the only Jewish-ori-
dren
grew. But many children have been
ented infant care program in southern
pulled
from the JPM anyway, he said.
Oakland County. Temple Emanu-El
"Once children get to nursery school
has a burgeoning nursery school pro-
age, there is an affinity to a synagogue,
gram with 130 children, but it doesn't
where children start an intensive Jewish
offer care for children younger than 2.
education," Sorkin explained.
Hess is considering enrolling her 2-
Temple Emanu-El's Bone noted
year-old at Temple Emanu-El, but says
that her school casts a wide net. "Not
all families in the school are [Emanu-
Lonny Goldsmith can be reached at
El] members and some are from inter-
(248) 354-6060 ext. 263, or by e-mail
faith families," she said. "Typically, we
.
at: lgoldsmith@thejewishnews.com

LONNY GOLDSMITH
Stair Writer

T

3/26
1999

6 Detroit Jewish News