Veteran childcare provider recognized by Chamber of Commerce

Local childcare provider Jodi Hirchert is May's Employee of the Month sponsored by the New Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce. Jodi has cared for children for over 27 years, 15 of those as a licensed childcare provider. So when Amanda Hegland accepted the position of Executive Director for the New Rockford Area Betterment Corporation, she knew her daughters would be in good hands.

Luckily for Hegland, Hirchert's philosophy centers on one thing: open communication with the parents. Hirchert says, "I can't really say I'm my own boss. I share that responsibility with the parents. They rely on me and my business so they can make a living."

When the Hegland family learned their second daughter, Piper, would be born with Spina bifida (a neural tube defect resulting in the incomplete development of the spinal cord), they weren't sure how Hirchert would feel about caring for a child with such specific needs.

Hirchert recalls, "I had to be honest. I had no idea what I might be getting into, and I was upfront about that. We decided we'd see how it goes."

Her hesitancy wasn't for lack of experience. Hirchert had worked with children who had special medical needs before, including her own daughter who had cancer when she was only two years old. The potential challenge came in managing the other children, who were in a mix of age groups, while also tending to the special needs that Piper would require.

The task began when Piper was three months old. She came to childcare wearing corrective casts that extended from her hips to her feet. Eventually she moved out of the casts and into corrective leg braces. Hirchert has been there along the way, and for Hegland it has been such a relief. Hegland says, "I honestly thought I'd need to stay home to care for Piper, but Jodi has been sogreat. She made the decision to be part of the New Rockford community a very easy one."

That's just the beginning. Now 19 months old, Piper has continued to grow in strength and agility. Hirchert says, "She is just a fun, happy girl." She's not fully verbal in her communication and gets around best with an "army crawl" type of locomotion. While the Hegland family has a variety of equipment to help accommodate Piper's needs, it's not practical to haul that equipment around.

Hirchert took the initiative to contact the Life Skills & Transition Center (formerly the Developmental Center). This state-operated, comprehensive support agency for people with disabilities provides specialized services. With help from the center, soon Hirchert had secured specialized equipment for Piper to use while in her care. The "pony-walker" as they call it allows her to stand and sit as she pleases, which means she can get some great time in hanging out with the other toddlers.

Hirchert foresees another five years in the childcare business. "It originally began when I had two babies of my own at home, she recalls. "At the time I thought it would be something I would only do until they were in school. Now I'm aiming for when my grandkids go to school."

Have you experienced great service or know someone who consistently works to ensure that his or her customers are satisfied? Submit a nomination for Employee of the Month by filling out the card in the table tents or on the bulletin boards at local businesses, or go online to http://www.cityofnewrockford.com/chamber and download a form to complete and return it to the Transcript office.