A growing group of people is meeting a need in Austin like no one else can.

People from diverse cultures are offering a more familiar atmosphere to immigrant children by becoming licensed childcare providers.

The Catherwood Home, a 24-hour childcare home, has been the catalyst for this change. Of the immigrant licensed childcare workers in Mower County, all but one works at Catherwood.

Shannon Hart, the child care resource and referral coordinator at the Parenting Resource Center, said there are many barriers for immigrants trying to earn their license, but more and more people are overcoming them.

"We're becoming more rich with childcare options," she said.

Through mentoring and experience gained working with children at the home, 11 employees at Catherwood have earned their license. Five of those are still on staff.

Consequentially, Catherwood offers a mix of language, food and culture for children while providing the comfort of an atmosphere of cultural understanding.

Childcare is a new concept to many immigrants.

Anu Kasturi, a licensed provider from Madras, India, said children in India are with the family or in school. Childcare is not necessary because the family is always available.

"Here everyone wants to work," she said. "But back in India, ladies basically stay at home."

Lilliana Valdivia, from Guadalajara, Mexico, said having supervision for children is not a concern where she is from.

"The kids wander around in the streets, and the people don't care," she said.

When they do deem that childcare is necessary, the Mexicans also leave that up to the family.

All of them agreed that an understanding of the cultural norms is important when dealing with immigrant parents and their children.

Parents are more comfortable leaving their children with someone who understands those norms.

This understanding manifests itself in a number of ways, but one of the most obvious cultural adjustments at Catherwood is the menus.

Claudia Lugo, from Reinosa, Mexico, cooks traditional food for the children. She said white children also enjoy the food, despite the unfamiliar tastes. Onions with lemon has been a surprise hit, she said.

Catherwood Director Lynn Spainhower said the atmosphere fosters cultural tolerance for the children.

"When you have children in this arena, you get that," she said. "You don't have that cultural divide anymore."

Spainhower was a mentor for the one immigrant licensed provider in Mower County not affiliated with Catherwood.

Anna Rihan, from Sudan, is now entering her third week of providing childcare out of her house.

After deciding to try to get her license, she found that one of the biggest barriers was negativity.

"They say, 'You're English is not so good. You can't get that kind of training,'" she said. "I say, 'I am trying.'"

Rihan went through CPR, First Aid and new provider classes in her pursuit of certification.

With help from Spainhower, Rihan learned how to manage a childcare home.

Although all six of the children in her care are from Sudan, she makes sure American culture is also a part of their day.

She speaks English with the children and learned to cook American food such as macaroni and cheese and hamburger.

Nonetheless, she thinks the similar experiences between immigrants in America helps form trust with the parents.

Cultural differences within the Sudanese tribes have been somewhat of a problem for her. A civil war in Sudan has tribes pitted against each other, and many carry that animosity with them to America.

One mother decided not to send her child to Rihan based solely on the fact that she was from the "wrong" tribe.

Problems and obstacles are nothing new for a refugee who walked for six months out of Sudan to eventually follow her children to America.

Rihan raised her children alone and has learned how to handle children from both a mother's and father's perspective.

"If you don't have a husband, you have to be strong with your kids," she said.

Now she is passing that strength on to the children in her care.

Matt Merritt can be reached at 434-2214 or by email at :mailto:matt.merritt@austindailyherald.com