A panel discussed the issues of affordable, quality and accessible childcare in the ISU community Tuesday in an effort to increase the value of ISU Child Care Services.

The childcare summit was followed by feedback from participants who gave possible solutions to the growing problem at Iowa State.

“We are tired of talking about it and not doing anything about it,” said Natalia Juan-Miguez, graduate student in political science.

The childcare summit was organized by the YWCA of Ames, Government of the Student Body and other interested groups to explore childcare issues in the Ames community in depth, with the hope of coming up with strategies to solve problems.

It is a continued effort that stems from a national conference last year where Americans realized that the childcare system in this part of the world is far less efficient and effective than in other countries, said Judy Dolphin, executive director of the YWCA of Ames.

Although Iowa State has childcare resources at University Village, Veterinary Medicine and the Child Development Laboratory School located in the Palmer Human Development and Family Studies Building, these are not enough, Juan-Miguez said.

“There are still 40 to 60 kids on a waiting list for a place at University Village,” she said.

The main challenge for institutions and families is coming up with the resources and finances to pay for childcare.

According to Nation’s Network of Child Care Resource and Referral 2005 statistics, annual childcare costs for infants under age 2 exceeds $6,677 per year.

“That’s more than a year’s worth of in-state tuition,” said Jerri Baumeister, director of the ISU Center for Child Care Resources. “So you can see how childcare costs are so daunting.”

After the panel discussed where the university childcare programs have been, what the current situation is and where they would like them to be in the future, the participants split into groups of five to come up with creative solutions.

One participant suggested the need for more credible statistics in order for people to present substantial information to be considered.

“There needs to be a systematic collection of data to find what percentage of ISU students, faculty and staff need childcare support,” said Michael Bushman, junior in health and human performance. “How can you fix the problem if you don’t have all the facts?”

Participants urged people to educate themselves about such issues and to take notice of who is supporting positive steps for the needs of society.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, said Iowa State has made progress by improving the facilities and creating new programs, but there is more work to be done.