DECATUR - Hispanic couples may come to the United States to work, but they often don't look for child care so both parents can.

"In our culture, we believe there's no place better for a baby to be than home with mom, grandparents or other extended family members," said Claudia Fabian, outreach specialist for Central and Southern Illinois for the Springfield-based Latino Coalition for Prevention. "But that second job is what keeps the family out of poverty."

To help ease the transition for the growing number of Hispanic families settling in downstate Illinois, the coalition assisted University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies in producing "Abriendo Caminos" ("Clearing the Path"), a 10-minute DVD about choosing child care.

Sherry Rocha, family life educator for Extension's Macon County unit, got the idea for the Spanish-language DVD while serving on the coalition's community involvement committee but vowed at its unveiling Monday at unit offices it would not be her last.

How to get a driver's license, navigate the health care system, open a bank account and enroll your child in school are among other topics under discussion.

"Abriendo Caminos," filmed at Hoopeston Migrant Headstart, a home child care in Champaign and the University of Illinois Child Development Lab, will be available for checkout from any Extension family life educator, any childcare resource and referral service and the Decatur Public Library.

Copies also were presented Monday to three members of Latinos en Accion of Macon County - Chairwoman Maria Ploch; Tim Flavin, director of Mi Raza Community Center in Arcola; and the Rev. Robert Bushey, pastor for children, youth and families at Central Christian Church in Decatur.

Rocha said Hispanic families who request a DVD will get one free, but agencies will be asked for $5 per copy so more DVDs can be made. Because "Abriendo Caminos" has English subtitles, English as a Second Language teachers may also find it useful, she said.

The coalition translated Rocha's script into Spanish, and Extension and the child care network split the $4,500 cost of making 700 copies.

"Now, hopefully, families will see they don't have to feel guilty if they look for something good for their child," Fabian said.

Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@herald-review.com or 421-7978.