Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– While attending the Park Forest Business Breakfast on January 25, eNews Park Forest had the opportunity to sit down with Carisa Hurley, Owner and Director of Busybee Daycare, 266 Somonauk. The facility has been open since October of 2005. Hurley shared her thoughts on operating a successful daycare facility in Park Forest, “We’re located in Grace United Protestant Church in Park Forest, so a lot of people may not know that we’re there. I provide childcare for children ages 2 to 12. We have a full curriculum that we use to help the children develop all the skills that are necessary to prepare them for school. When they leave our center, we want them to have all the reading skills, to kind of stand above other children. So we work really hard with the children to do that."
The facility gets an early start each day, “I think our hours are unique because we open at 5:30 [a.m.]. Some parents have to get on the train at 6 o’clock, so people drop their children off. And then we’re open until 7:00 [p.m.]. We have some parents that get off the train at 6 or 6:30, so they’re able to pick up their children by 7:00.”
She commented on the requirements of the state, “The licensing process can be a long process. We’re licensed by the Department of Children and Family Services. So there are certain requirements they have that you have to have yourself. So, just making sure that you meet all of their requirements, it can be tedious, but those requirements are there for a reason. I strongly believe in following DCFS regulations."
Fees vary according to the age of the child, “For a 3 – 5 year old, it’s $130 a week. For before and after school, $75 a week. 2 year olds are $160 a week. We try to make prices that parents can afford, and still provide high quality child care." They also accept foster care payments, and, "any type of child care subsidies," she said.
She commended the people she works with, “The staff I have is really committed. One of our teachers has been around in daycare for 16 years."
"I’ve actually been in the daycare field for about 20 years. I’ve helped other daycare providers in their centers. I’ve worked in the field for a very long time, and decided that I was ready to do it myself."
Busy Bees Daycare can be reached at 708-503-4400, or on the web at www.busybeesinc.net.
