Video: Mississippi Daycares Adopting Finger Print Scanner Systems

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PONTOTOC, Miss. (WCBI)-The Mississippi Department of Human Services is finally moving forward with child care finger scanners. Signing your child in and out of daycare will soon become the thing of the past. After more than a year’s delay the Mississippi Department of Human services is requiring all daycare operators who receive subsidized federal grants to implement the use of finger print scanners by the first of October.

“When they bring the child to the center in the mornings they have to scan their fingers and that lets them know the child is here,” says Twana Payne.

Circle of Friends Daycare in Pontotoc has been using the system for six months. Twana Payne, the director and owner of the daycare center says it keeps attendance more organized.

“It holds us accountable, it holds the families accountable and I think it better serves the family and children of Mississippi,” says Payne.

Not only does the finger scanner cut down on paper work each month, Payne says even the parents find it helpful.

“Our parents have liked it. No complaints, they were glad to come on board with us and help us through this process and we’ve had really good success so far,” says Payne.

Just down the road, the Kangaroo Pouch Daycare still uses sign-in sheets, but is looking forward to the new changes.

“We are excited about the new system we don’t really know when we will be getting it for sure we’re waiting at this point on a phone call to let us know exactly when they will be coming out to install the system,” says Christie LittleJohn.

No matter if you are against or for the new system, Christie LittleJohn says the changes are to better our children’s future.

“Mississippi has seen so many changes in early childhood over the past year and good changes I might add. Very good things I might add. Very good things for our young children. Our center as well as the other centers around us are here to serve young children and their families and we want to do the very best for them their our future,” says LittleJohn.

There are 8,000 children in the state currently on the waiting list for federal subsidized child care.