A caring business: Day care provider re-establishes small ratio home facility

For her, the business of looking after other people's children is nothing less than a passion.

She loves children, loves working with them, and loves watching them develop.

Dworkin runs a small facility for pre-schoolers and pre-teen after-schoolers at her Tahiti Road home, part of which she has converted into a playroom/classroom to accommodate the youngsters.

Art supplies, toys, play equipment, a computer and other preschool paraphernalia are no different from any other typical facility -- big or small -- but Dworkin believes personalized care is the key.

By law, she's allowed to look after no more than six pre-schoolers and six after-schoolers, which allows her to give more attention to each child.

That said, Dworkin favors screening children instead of simply filling her allowable quota.

"I like to bring them in on a trial basis first, because not every child might be happy with me, or vice-versa," she said.

Most times, she's able to pick up possible conflicts during first visits, she said. But in her 15 years of experience that has happened just a few times.

Dworkin isn't tied to any mandatory curriculum, and applies her own techniques to keep children stimulated.

"With the younger ones, I like to bring out creativity... to reinforce colors for them in art, for example, to introduce them to new textures and encourage them to make projects," Dworkin said.

The older ones, she said, have more carte blanche.

"I usually let them relax and unwind when they first get out of school," Dworkin said. "Then I'll help them with homework, or go over books with them, or let them play games of skill. Sometimes I'll play with them."

Even though Dworkin previously worked at a day-care facility -- and ran her own center for two years in South Carolina before returning to Marco in June of this year -- her re-establishment required rigorous scrutiny and red tape on the part of the Florida Department of Children and Families.

A 30-hour refresher course was mandatory, as well as having to furnish full details about the facility itself. That included an inspection of sanitation and safety measures as well as playground equipment.

The personal checklists included a general background check, local criminal background check, being fingerprinted, furnishing an affidavit of "good moral character," undergoing an employment history check, and even a records check on her own daughter, Jade, 12. She also has a younger child, Jake, 9.

Dworkin fully endorses the department's policy of inspections without warning, and has an open-door policy for parents of children in her care.

"I completely agree with all the red tape," she said. "It weeds out people who should not be in this profession."

"It's a business too," Dworkin said, "and you should run it as if someone's looking over your shoulder anyway. A good reputation is better than anything."

Former New York corrections officer Helen McMahon quickly entrusted Dworkin with the care of her 3-year-old daughter Alexa -- but not before scrutinizing the facility.

"I brought Alexa here to see how she and Nancy would interact, and found her to be extremely caring," McMahon said. "I also liked the small group setting."

Dworkin says although she's not required to complete any further continuing education, she does so anyway by reading relevant publications.

She also stays in touch with friends, who also happen to be elementary school teachers, for ongoing advice.

Dworkin said she considers her affinity for children a gift.

"I have a deep love for teaching and working with kids," she said. "For me, the choice of the career was like the duck to water."

Dworkin has openings for preschool children as well as after-school students. Hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday for younger children and 2:40 to 6 p.m. for older children.

Cost is $100 a week, and infant care is available for $10 an hour during weekends by appointment. Dworkin can be contacted at 389-2951.