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2024Understanding Childcare Challenges in Rural AmericaStrategic Recommendations and an Action Framework
ContentsExecutive Summary 3Dene the Childcare Challenge in Rural America 4Why is Early Childcare an Issue? 4Childcare Providers and Assistance 7What are NTCA members doing to address the childcare issue? 8Action Framework 10Dene the Problem 10Identify Current Assets 10Group Development 11Design Solution 11Identify Funding 12Implementation 12Recommendations 13State-Based Recommendations 13Locally-Based Recommendations 15Employer-Based Recommendations 16Childcare Facility-Based Recommendations 19Current and Emerging Childcare Models 21References 30UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Executive SummaryLong thought to primarily concern women, the lack of aordable and available early childcare has now become a national economic challenge that aects families, businesses and communities across the country. Employees rely on childcare to work, employers rely on childcare to attract and retain a diverse workforce, and the economy relies on parents being active participants in the regional delivery of services and goods. Rural communities are especially hard hit by inadequate early childcare, and rural broadband providers are increasingly searching for ways to address the challenges in their communities. According to the National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services, “nationally, rural children under ve years old make up 24 percent of children eligible for child-care services in the country, yet 55 percent of these children live in a child-care desert.” In addition, rural communities witness issues related to distance, transportation, availability, and quality.1 In an eort to spotlight the importance of this economic issue, add to the discussion, and provide some current models that address the challenges, this white paper reviews literature and academic research to reveal various childcare models. To accomplish this, we answer this collection of questions specic to:Why is early childcare an issue? What are the challenges/barriers to early childcare? What are some samples of successful utility-cooperative employer-owned childcare models? What steps can be taken to assist the childcare crisis? What recommendations can state and local governments, employers, and childcare providers take to assist in the childcare crisis? What are the current childcare models? What are samples of those childcare models? The following sections are organized around this set of questions to provide a robust academic review of the current types of childcare models around the United States, with a particular emphasis on rural America. 1 National Advisory Committee on Rural health and Human Services, January 2023.PAGE 3UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Dene the Childcare Challenge in Rural America Why is Early Childcare an Issue? With such a central role in a community’s economic and social well-being, it is shocking that the system has been allowed to devolve into what currently exists. In a nutshell, early childcare, as currently constituted, remains a broken system. Employers and providers struggle to prot, as evidenced by the many providers closing their doors for good in the years after the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, for childcare workers, the wages paid often qualify them for a wide array of public assistance, and, in most cases, the wages earned are not even enough to cover the costs of childcare for their own children. Finally, despite providers not making enough money to build a sustainable model and employees earning wages at or below the poverty level, childcare costs for parents are burdensome and often insurmountable. In addition to the important, central role that quality childcare plays in the intellectual development of children, it is also a vital economic driver of a community. Employees rely on childcare to work, employers rely on childcare to attract and retain a diverse workforce, and the economy relies on parents being active participants in the regional delivery of services and goods. A state relies on industry and its employees’ earnings to develop and expand its tax base, which consists of sales and import taxes on goods and income taxes on corporations’ and employees’ earnings. Additional economic investment in the region and established businesses’ aliated expansion and growth becomes challenging without an adequately sized workforce. But more than that, the lost wages and earnings, production drop-os, and lagging sales gures translate into millions of dollars of lost revenue for state and county governments that rely partly on payroll, sales, and property taxes. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 4
Challenges/Barriers to Early Childcare Childcare challenges are expensive and complicated to x. The list below outlines some examples of barriers to early childcare.• Capacity: The number of children needing early childhood development often exceeds available seats at early childcare providers. As a result, childcare wait lists are frequently long for limited seats and can last for years. Particularly in rural areas or areas of depressed economic activity, there are often not enough early childcare providers, and “childcare deserts” emerge, leaving work-willing parents with no local options should they wish to rejoin the workforce.• Affordability: The high cost of care, driven by the expense of providing a safe, secure environment for children to learn and develop, impacts parents’ ability to place their child(ren) in early childcare and limits the number of viable options available for childcare, particularly for lower-income parents and families.• Regulatory Challenges: Extensive and sometimes burdensome licensing, quality, and compliance requirements affect the operational costs of early childcare providers, driving profit margins down. It is with good reason that many of the most stable childcare providers are constituted as nonprofits. Without this designation, access to grants and government funding is extremely limited, and without grants, childcare models seldom return a profit. In particular, the end of COVID-19 pandemic-related funding for childcare has had an immediate and drastic impact on parents and providers. Throughout our discussions, it was asserted that enrollment has/will plunge with the expiration of this important funding assistance for parents. • Employee Challenges: It is extremely difficult for childcare providers to attract and retain qualified early childcare teachers and assistants, thanks to the low wages and lack of employee benefits typically provided to these workers. In many examples, hourly rates in this industry, especially for entry-level workers, are well below entry-level wages in manufacturing and service industries. Those comparative industries often do not even have high educational attainment and licensing, but still make low wages. • Policy Challenges: Local or state roadblocks to further funding, advocacy, and the criticality of early childcare issues are often mentioned. Although legislators are slowly embracing the importance of this industry, too often, it remains an overlooked part of economic vitality. Childcare, it can be argued, should be considered in concert with infrastructure investment (ensuring roads, bridges, and transportation networks are in good working order) as an essential part of “doing business” in the state. In addition, many states, specifically those that are geographically large, undermine the cost of administrative costs in traveling, licensing, and supporting the childcare industry.• Poverty, Transportation, Housing Challenges: Poverty, transportation, and housing-related barriers that feed into access and affordability of early childcare coverage are multipliers regarding lack of access. Often these disaffected communities, comprised of parents who fill important roles in a service economy or lower-wage positions, are overlooked. Without access to affordable childcare, returning to the workforce and moving along a career progression ladder is impossible, leaving the community’s most vulnerable segments even further behind. PAGE 5UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
TPMA, Inc. worked closely with the Foundation for Rural Service (FRS) to prepare this academic white paper on understanding the childcare challenges in rural America. FRS is a non-prot 501(c)(3) organization created in 1994 by NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association. The organization works in cooperation with NTCA and its independent, community-based telephone and broadband providers to sustain and enhance the quality of life in rural America by advancing an understanding of rural issues.NTCA has been working to build a more connected future for members to better serve rural communities since 1954. Responding to consumer demand, these small businesses and independently owned providers have evolved beyond traditional telephone companies to become one-stop technology service providers, oering the Internet’s fastest speeds and numerous broadband-enabled services, including over-the-top video, home security, telemedicine, remote learning, computer repair, and cloud services.” Shirley BloomeldShirley Bloomeld is the chief executive ocer of NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association. Bloomeld has extensive expertise in the role of federal communications policies, with an emphasis on sustaining the vitality of rural and remote communities. Additionally, Bloomeld is an expert in the benets rural broadband networks bring to millions of American families, businesses, and the national economy. Discussing the challenges to childcare, Shirley described, “I’m not seeing set aside funding to support daycare in some of the rural areas. Again, it’s hard to focus on rural vs. urban, and the challenges are unique. You may have too many slots in urban areas, whereas in rural areas, you may have to travel two hours for quality childcare. Policymakers will have to look through it on a dierent lens.” In addition, when asked for her recommendations to assist with the childcare crisis, Shirley went on to state, “People are afraid to take on what may seem like liability. It’s about identifying those sets of skills of how to gather those leaders and identify anchor institutions that will partner.” UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 6
Childcare Providers and Assistance To understand early care and education, it is important to have some information about early childcare coverage and its providers. Early childhood is readily understood as birth through eight years of age. This time period is widely considered the most vulnerable and crucial stage of a person’s life and education focuses on guiding children through play.2Childcare providers come in many shapes and forms to address families’ needs. For example, the state of Indiana categorizes childcare in various ways. The following information describes the types of early childcare and is courtesy of Brighter Futures Indiana.3 Home Providers• Licensed Family Child Care Homes • Not licensed Family Child Care Home approved for CCDF vouchers• Not licensed providers with fewer than five children who are not relatedReligious Providers• Registered ministries with a voluntarily certified program designation, often called VCP• Registered ministries approved for CCDF • Registered ministryCenter Provider • Early childcare occurs in a non-home facility and is for at least one child. • These centers must be licensed unless there is a specific exemption. Preschool and Before or After School Programs • These programs are not required to be licensed. • They may take place in licensed environments. If they become licensed, then they are considered centers. Public or Private Schools Oering Preschool • Preschool or pre-kindergarten may occur in these settings. School-Based Programs • Local school corporations or private schools are responsible for these. They may or may not have a license depending on certain factors, like serving infants and toddlers. 2 Indiana Early Learning Advisory Committee, n.d. 3 Brighter Future’s Indiana, n.d. PAGE 7UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
What are NTCA members doing to address the childcare issue? TPMA, Inc., in collaboration with Foundation Rural Service, conducted interviews with Kristi Westbrock, Dave Wolf, and Shirley Bloomeld to acquire anecdotal and qualitative evidence of their specic types of childcare models and eorts in rural America. Each of the following is a brief description of each interview including highlights related to ending the childcare crisis in rural America. Kristi Westbrock The Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC), with oces in Brainerd, Baxter, Crosby, and Mountain Iron, Minnesota, is a telecommunications cooperative company striving to deliver state-of-the-art internet, TV, and phone services. The website states, “As our rural communities rely on higher speeds and more reliable internet services for communication, entertainment, and conducting business, CTC remains committed to current and future demands.” Kristi Westbrock is the chief executive ocer & general manager at CTC with 26 years of industry experience in training in technology, regulatory, business operations, and product development. Kristi was also appointed by FCC Chair Rosenworcel to serve on the Interagency Working Group to submit proof to Congress on Workforce Development in the United States. Westbrook has served on numerous local and state committees and boards of directors within the telecommunication industry and as a trustee on a national board. In addition to the remarkable contributions mentioned above, Kristi was instrumental in developing a childcare program that operates as an employer-owned model.In our interview, Kristi gave the TPMA team insight on her story and relationship with childcare. “14 years ago when I had my daughter Emily, I had her at a home daycare, and the schedules did not work. The daycare basically red me as a result of scheduling conicts. I was in a panic mode and was working on my career and loved what I was doing. I called the YMCA, and I was in a panic. They were so helpful; they got me in and made a spot for Emily. I remember dropping her o, knowing that I could drop her o with no repercussions. […] The Y was a saving grace. I was so impressed with their program. Emily saw diversity at a very young age, and she saw people that she didn’t normally interact with. My husband also got involved and jumped on the board of directors. He knew that the program needed to be worked on and expanded. […] My daughter now has her rst job working at the YMCA.” Through their involvement in the childcare arena, Kristi and her husband were able to assist in the development of a new daycare facility through the renovation of a funeral home building. Funding for the renovation and expansion came from federal, ARPA, and city sources. The remaining gap funding was covered utilizing a USDA-RD Loan owned by CTC. Also, CTC owns a summer camp that partners with the YMCA to provide outdoor recreational sports and activities for youth. The Model—CTC partners with the YMCA and the local Economic Development Association (EDA) for childcare operations and loan mechanics. In short, the YMCA is responsible for paying o the loan to CTC, which is nancially liable, oversees the loan, and owns both the daycare and summer camp. In addition, the CTC partners with the local EDA, which handles the administrative portion of the USDA RD Loan. The CTC is guaranteed two toddler spots and one infant spot within the childcare facility. The governing body is the YMCA Board of Directors.UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 8
Dave WolfGardonville Cooperative Telephone Association is a telecommunications cooperative providing services for four exchanges in west Central Minnesota. In addition to their telecommunications services, Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association is extremely active in the community, participating in various events and meetings and opening their employer-owned model daycare.4Dave Wolf, the CEO of Gordonville Cooperative Telephone Association, is an expert in the telecommunications industry with over 33 years of experience, 21 of those years at Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association. The Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association realized a need for subsidized daycare, specically infant and toddler care, for its employees. In 2008, the company built a new headquarters and began considering expanding to include daycare. Utilizing a non-prot status, the corporation acquired a unique daycare license. In addition, a second daycare location was opened to assist with the issue of childcare in the area. The cost of daycare is subsidized for employees of the cooperative. COVID-19 impacted the daycare arena nationwide, but specically impacted these two daycares. Unfortunately, due to dierent challenges, both locations have been closed for the development of a new childcare facility that will hold 52 children and include infant care. The cost will be subsidized for Gardonville employees, and the location is close to the cooperative’s headquarters. When asked about what inspired Dave and the company to work towards the development of a daycare, he replied, “As an employer that’s trying to attract younger talent, we must provide these services. I believe it’s probably the only way to keep operating in small towns in rural areas. If these services don’t exist yet, create them.”Another example of an employer-owned model, Gardonville represents an innovative approach to providing solutions to the childcare crisis.4 Gardonville Cooperative Telephone Association, n.d. PAGE 9UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Action FrameworkSo what can a company do to address childcare challenges in their community? It won’t be easy, but the following steps suggest a roadmap for companies to consider. Any steps taken to mitigate the lack of childcare – even baby steps – are progress toward addressing the problem.2 Identify Current Assets What assets already exist in your community? Types of community development assets include human, social, political, nancial, cultural, built, and natural.Leverage the school district’s network of engaged parents who can provide insight into childcare issues and explore possibilities for early care and learning at schools. Leverage community colleges, technical colleges, and universities to identify needs, gaps, challenges, and solutions to student-based childcare issues. Consider developing a map of early childcare providers to understand better childcare deserts and the likelihood of parents transporting across counties for early childcare. Identify partners and stakeholders that are untapped in the current childcare eort.1 Dene the Problem Conduct childcare needs assessments to understand cost, capacity, and challenges facing parents and employers. Raise general awareness of collective issues experienced by dierent types of childcare providers, such as operational and licensing costs and unique issues to each type of childcare provider. • For example, providers that are not 501(c)(3) organizations have additional barriers to getting funding since certain organizations only provide funding to registered 501(c)(3). Utilize academic research and nationwide resources, policies, and examples of successful childcare models to drive awareness and policy change state and nationwide. • Tri-Share Model, childcare coalitions, childcare collaboratives, college and technical university models, foundation-led programs, and employer-owned programs are just a few examples of the types of efforts nationwide in rural America. See Appendix UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 10
3 Group DevelopmentWho else in the community is feeling the eects of inadequate childcare? Find common organizations or businesses and work together. Continue regional and county eorts in childcare and ensure communication about county-specic eorts to share information regionally and avoid duplication of eorts.Collaborate with community foundations who are meeting with childcare providers. Collaborate with community partners, business leaders, government leaders, economic developers, state legislators, childcare providers, and parents to identify solutions, design solutions, identify funding, and implement those solutions. Form coalitions, collaboratives, and cooperatives that emphasize community development to address the childcare crisis. If these exist, support ongoing models and emphasize advocacy for updated modeling and universal childcare. Support business leaders in expansion and redevelopment with employer-owned childcare models as an example. 4 Design SolutionJust like designing a new ber deployment, sometimes your solution to the childcare problem is determined by your funding and external restrictions. Identify funding in tandem with designing a solution. Funding can mandate the type of solution, organizational structure, and standards. Review and research the dierent types of childcare models currently in the United States. Examples include Tri-Share, childcare coalitions, childcare collaboratives, career and technical community college models, foundation-led programs, and employer-owned programs. See Appendix A for a variety of recommended models that may work in your situation. Design a solution relevant to the community and its childcare needs. Prioritize solutions on a short, medium, and long-term scale. Identify solutions to the challenges and barriers identied in the needs assessment. Continue investigating new developments regarding early childcare in other states nationwide and consider in-person or virtual meetings to learn more about their practices and implementation. Continue eorts regardless of obstacles and challenges. Many successful childcare models developed due to a failed grant application or a denied loan. Continue conversations to ensure incremental change. PAG E 11UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
5 Identify Funding Share state or federal funding updates with clear ways for certain stakeholders to participate. Review funding requirements and familiarize yourself with general eligibility requirements and the scope of services. Research funding regularly. Identify Request for Proposal list serves or mailing lists specically for developing new funding federally and state-wide. Utilize innovative funding mechanisms outside of normal grant funding, including loans, TIF districts, or land endowment funds. Suggested Funding Resources: United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development • Rural Economic Development Loan & Grant Programs | Rural Development (usda.gov)• State Offices | Rural Development (usda.gov)• Find Your Local Service Center | Rural Development (usda.gov)Economic Development Administration• All Funding Opportunities | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov)• Contact Us | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov)• Economic Development Directory | U.S. Economic Development Administration (eda.gov)Oce of Child Care• Office of Child Care (OCC) | The Administration for Children and Families (hhs.gov)6 Implementation Remove obstacles to creating and advocating for shared resource pools for childcare providers, such as substitute teachers and administrative pools. Reduce the burden on providers by lowering the cost and increasing the speed of getting teachers licensed and into the classroom. Consider educating childcare workers about how to run a center and encouraging their professional development and entrepreneurial spirit. This could assist in creating more entrances, which would increase capacities and seats for childcare. Consider the development of apprenticeship programs for early learning development topics. Partner with universities, community colleges, and technical colleges on early learning development curriculum development and coordination. Consider and engage local and state leaders to ease the burdens placed on substitute teachers, childcare providers, and childcare sta. Allow childcare providers to le on behalf of parents for childcare vouchers. Adhere to compliance standards set forth by Federal and State agencies. Federal Resources: • Child Care and Development Fund Final Regulations | The Administration for Children and Families (hhs.gov)State Resources • Home | Licensing Regulations Database (hhs.gov)UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 12
Recommendations The challenge of childcare looms large across the country, and multiple initiatives are already underway that can be utilized to address childcare shortages and aordability. Based on our national, regional, and local reviews, we organize these potential solutions into four levels: State-based, locally-based, employer-based, and childcare-facility-based. Any of these approaches, of course, will require further examination and planning before implementation. Recommendations also provide avenues for discussion at local, regional, state, and national levels to prepare stakeholders for a path forward in addressing childcare impact challenges for parents, childcare providers, and employers. State-Based Recommendations Streamline Governance Unfortunately, governance can be a challenge in the childcare arena. In many states, resources are scattered among various agency websites, creating confusion for parents and providers. To address this, states are encouraged to develop a centralized network or “one-stop shop” resource center. Developing one-stop resource centers or divisions emphasizing infants’ and children’s early learning and development can assist states in developing internal capacity and centralizing resources. This capacity can then be tapped and distributed among these departments, hubs, or facilities, like the Michigan Tri-Share Model. Both South Carolina and Utah have created resource centers for early childhood services. 5 In addition, states are encouraged to increase childcare state sta administrative costs, travel, and time allowances to accommodate for geographically rural areas. 5 Turner, March 6, 2024. Identify, Create, and Expand Funding Mechanisms Early education and childcare are expensive, and many families continue to nd them unaordable. As a result, states are encouraged to identify, create, and expand funding mechanisms. One method is the development of funds earmarked for early childhood learning and development, typically from a larger fund. For example, New Mexico amended the State Constitution to create the Land Grant Permanent Fund. This fund annually allocates funding to the Department of Early Childhood Education and Care to provide universal childcare.6 An additional method would be to create a funding tax or mechanism. For example, in Noble County, Indiana, County Commissioners utilized a county economic development income tax as a set-aside funding source to launch the Tri-Share pilot.7Expanding to include allocations directly linked to early childhood learning and development is necessary to address the aordability of childcare in terms of subsidy assistance, infrastructure development, and programmatic assistance. By creating new funding mechanisms, states can centralize funding to be distributed directly to the early childhood learning and development space. In addition, states are encouraged to have consistent funding to sustain eorts. 6 Turner, March7 Thrive by Five, n.d. PAGE 13UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Build Supply and Workforce While emphasizing the above recommendations, building supply and workforce should also remain a simultaneous priority. Workforce-based state agencies can develop career pathways and apprenticeship programs to assist in career development and retention. Through these programs, a state can aid by responding to workforce shortages, turnover, and lack of access to technical assistance and training materials.8 Forbes Advisor denes an apprentice as an individual who receives compensation to learn a specic trade under the supervision of an experienced tradesman. 9 8 Bipartisan Policy Center, October 2023. 9 Galarita, March 7, 2023. Apprenticeship programs have been created nationwide and have been highly successful. In a childcare atmosphere, apprenticeship programs utilize classroom instruction, on-the-job training, and professional mentorship. While maintaining on-the-job training, participants can acquire state and child development associate credentials, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree. Partnerships with school districts and universities are great resources for developing an early childhood learning development apprenticeship program.1010 Bipartisan Policy Center, October 2023. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 14
Locally-Based Recommendations Develop Partnerships and Coordinate Partnerships are pivotal to tackling the childcare crisis collectively. All the models presented throughout this analysis outline the relationship between people, ideas, and organizations. Childcare is multifaceted and involves creating relationships with various actors. Local governments are encouraged to prioritize expanding current childcare eorts by partnering with active collaboratives, coalitions, or other groups. Developing partnerships should remain the priority in areas where those groups do not exist. By partnering with economic development organizations, libraries, childcare facilities, schools, universities, and businesses, local governments can begin to understand the breadth of the problem to address solutions. Review the Current Childcare Landscape To begin, coordinate with local businesses, economic development organizations, consulting rms, nonprots, or childcare experts to conduct a needs assessment of the current landscape of the childcare industry, including cost and capacity. Coordinate with economic development organizations and government ocials on past, current, and future planning documents to adequately advocate for childcare assistance and expansion. In addition, review local zoning ordinances and inventory zoning county-wide to suciently measure the availability of infrastructure development. Consider redevelopment of abandoned or vacant property for childcare facilities and possible blight elimination. By creating a consistent inventory of available property, land, businesses, etc., local governments can identify future development opportunities and any barriers or challenges to development.11 11 Bipartisan Policy Center, October 2023. Develop Facilities and Infrastructure Childcare capacity remains a signicant issue in rural areas and communities in terms of distance to facilities and the number of seats and sta. Communities are encouraged to construct, renovate, and maintain childcare facilities to address this. Consider expanding or rehabilitating current childcare facilities, especially in rural areas, as new childcare facility development might have challenges or barriers. Partner with state agencies, nonprots, and community foundations to research funding opportunities. Research federal grants, loans, and credit mechanisms opportunities as they arise. Lastly, advocate childcare challenges to the business and philanthropic community. Partnering with these groups assists in creating advocacy and possibly in acquiring future investments. PAGE 15UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Employer-Based Recommendations Implement Employee Assistance Programs Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are voluntary, work-based programs oering free and condential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services to employees with personal and/or work-related problems.12 Some businesses are beginning to formalize childcare and childcare support networks and resource hubs as part of a broader approach to the traditional EAP. This low-to-no-cost solution would provide a formal network of working parents to support each other and allow the business to gain feedback and insight into childcare-based challenges and solutions from its employees. By tapping into a potential forum for parents to express concerns and challenges, and crowd-source solutions, employers can remain a fully engaged participant in the ongoing dialogue and be at the forefront of new solution implementation. Provide Flexible Scheduling The COVID-19 pandemic exposed a new wave of remote work and the potential for employers to adapt to a more exible work environment. Flexible scheduling adjusts work shifts to accommodate the childcare needs of working parents. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation suggests rst determining the scheduling gaps of working parents and seeking out opportunities to implement exibility. Once implemented, track the impact of exible scheduling to understand how those changes retain working parents.13 Manufacturing employers, often running multiple shifts, have had some success with “micro-scheduling” and self-scheduling apps, allowing employees to work split or extended shifts, working together via a real-time scheduling app to ensure full coverage of all shifts. Employees who prefer to work a standard shift with regular days o retain that ability and often serve as the backbone of the scheduling process. The micro or split shift employees ll in the gaps in the calendar, allowing parents, for example, to be home before and after school or until their partner is available to look after their child. 12 U.S. Oce of Personnel Management, n.d. 13 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, n.d. Oer Childcare Subsidies Another opportunity to combat inaccessibility and cost is that employers can utilize childcare-based subsidies like Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (DCFSAs) or vouchers for local/preferred childcare facilities. DCFSAs are considered pre-tax accounts used to pay for eligible dependent care. Additionally, providing working parents vouchers for childcare providers could reserve a certain number of spots, possibly with discounted employee rates.14 The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Employer Guide to Childcare Assistance and Tax Credits15 has additional insight on other employer-provided subsidies and employee tax credit options. While certainly this would add an additional benet, and aliated expense, for employers and questions of reciprocity for employees without childcare needs should be considered, the net benet- which we lay out above in terms of additional GRP generated- of attracting or retaining new employees not otherwise available/possible will almost certainly outweigh the cost to employers. Explore Nontraditional Solutions for Working Parents Although every industry faces some working parent challenges, frontline employees, shift workers, or parents working non-traditional hours are the most at risk of facing harsher barriers to accessible childcare. Employers engaging in non-traditional operating hours should consider non-traditional solutions for working parents to retain the labor force and increase employee productivity. Micro-shifts, self-scheduling, hybrid work schedules, and short-term childcare support options are all examples that could be explored, depending on the employer’s size, needs, and location. 14 U.S. Chamber of Commerce, April 28, 2022. 15 Shove, April 28, 2022. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 16
On-Site/Near-Site Childcare Centers On-site childcare addresses the access and aordability of working parents. Although this solution would require signicant investment and time, it would provide long-term solutions for working parents—and provide a valuable perk to attract and retain talent for employers. The U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation recommends rst assessing the needs of working parents, creating a “task force” to oversee the initiative, thoroughly researching the internal capacity for an on-site center, launching the program, and tracking the facility’s impact. Additionally, consider how to oset the cost of the center by utilizing existing subsidies, grants, and tax credits and incentives.16 Co-operative agreements between multiple employers to fund, for example, a childcare center as part of an industrial park, is also a viable option to split the cost among a consortium of employers, often in exchange for a guaranteed number of seats. Locally, the Toyota North America facility in Gibson County has provided childcare for its employees since 2003. In the 2022 NAM article, “The Right Thing to Do”: Toyota Provides Overnight Child Care,”17 NAM provides insight on how the company has successfully accommodated working parents and the benets of supporting its employees. 16 U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, n.d. 17 NAM, June 9, 2022. Partner with Backup Care Providers Backup care provides for unforeseen or sudden changes that impact childcare arrangements and entails, in short, that the employer retains a pool of available, certied, and bonded in-home childcare providers. When the unexpected occurs, like a sick child being sent home from daycare or when the partner of the employee is unexpectedly detained at their job, the employee can request a free (or reduced cost) provider from the pool to step in and allow the employee to report to work, on-time. This short-term solution could directly impact absenteeism and missed shifts of working parents. Interested employers would need to identify if there is a direct need for backup care, providers, and the nancial commitment to implement the program. Again, consortia of employers can pool resources to reduce the cost/burden of retaining such a service. Two examples of backup care include Amazon and Johns Hopkins University. Address Equitable Return to Work Strategies Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a signicant shift in the number of women and working mothers leaving the workforce. The National Women’s Law Center suggested one million fewer women in the workforce in January 2022 than in February 2020.18 Because of the national childcare crisis, many working mothers have not returned to work due to the lack of aordable, accessible, and reliable childcare. Because working mothers were (and still are) making less than men,19 it made nancial sense for mothers to remain at home as primary caregivers. Employers must reconsider equitable return-to-work strategies to reengage working mothers, including attraction bonuses and a transparent pay scale. 18 Tucker, February 1, 2022. 19 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 25, 2023. PAGE 17UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Eliminate Bias in the Hiring Process Relatedly, because working mothers have been out of the workforce for a couple of years, if not more, they will most likely have employment gaps on their resumes. This can be an intimidating aspect for women during the application process that could ultimately lead to qualied candidates walking away from open positions. Human Resource managers, recruiters, and talent acquisitionists should review and be aware of any conscious and unconscious biases in the recruitment and hiring processes and job descriptions to support and hire working mothers. Oer “Returnships” or Professional Development Opportunities “Returnships” are not a new talent engagement tool but have been a highly eective return-to-work strategy, specically for targeting women and working mothers. The University of Texas denes returnships as “short-term engagements for professionals who want to re-enter the workforce after an extended period. Unlike internship applicants, returnship candidates are usually more experienced professionals with signicant work history. They may need to reacquaint themselves with changes in their eld or new technology, but they have a strong working knowledge of their discipline and are usually paid for their time.”20 These initiatives provide returning mothers and parents who have been away from the workforce for an extended period with the chance to reacquaint themselves with their eld. They also provide employers with a short-term opportunity to evaluate potential candidates and make oers of full-time, permanent employment based on rst-hand reviews of performance and ability.20 The University of Texas, n.d. Establish Equitable Pay Improvement Strategies Because working mothers often earn lower incomes than their male counterparts, many left the workforce to be primary caregivers for their children during the pandemic.To reengage with working mothers, businesses must focus on equal compensation for work of equal value. By conducting periodic pay equity audits, businesses can ensure employees of comparable experience and roles are paid the same regardless of gender or race.21 Establish Gender Diversity KPI Goals By establishing gender diversity Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), businesses can actively address critical gender gaps and equal representation across their labor force and provide opportunities for working mothers to return to the workforce. To determine what KPIs could be established to support women in the workplace, the Boston Consulting Group recommends ve key metrics: Pay, Recruitment, Retention, Advancement, and Representation.22 In addition to developing action steps and gauging performance, the BCG also recommends strong and active support should be driven by executive leadership of the business, not just within the Human Resources activities. Intentionally engaging women and mothers as part of corporate planning initiatives ensures that solutions for the unique needs of parents of young children are a top-of-the-agenda concern. 21 Shmidt, July 13, 2022. 22 Abouzahr, April 3, 2018. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 18
Childcare Facility-Based Recommendations Address Compensation and Fiscal Stability One opportunity to recruit and retain qualied, experienced educators is increasing early childcare caregivers’ salaries and scal stability. However, this is challenging due to the complexity of balancing aordable childcare for working families and providing livable wages for caregivers, both while trying to operate a protable childcare business. Compensation does, however, remain a critical aw in the U.S. early childcare system, but it has received state and federal investments in recent years and momentum is building across the country for governments to invest in the childcare infrastructure just as it would the physical infrastructure of the state: as a cost of doing business. States and local communities nationwide should utilize salary/wage scales for the early childhood educator workforce, remaining vigilant in their review of current wages to the rates of pay across the region. The scales are intended to provide states and cities with the knowledge to develop salary scales for the early childhood workforce that can improve the livelihood of childcare providers in concert with overall upward wage and/or inationary pressure in the region.23 23 Dichter, October 2021. Support Career Advancement Initiatives Another identied barrier to childcare workers is access to career advancement opportunities. For example, The National Center on Early Childhood Development, in their report “The Early Childhood Workforce: Career Pathway Goals and Strategies for Developing, Improving, and Evaluating Higher Education Articulation Agreements”24 recommends two specic strategies to support career pathway development: 1. Strengthen competency-based qualification requirements for all care and education professionals working with children from birth through age 8. 2. Develop and implement comprehensive pathways and multiyear timelines at the individual, institutional, and policy levels for transitioning to a minimum bachelor’s degree qualification requirement, with specialized knowledge and competencies, for all lead educators working with children from birth through age 8. The report recommends that caregivers and childcare facilities develop professional development goals and strategies specically built for career growth and development within the industry. The study oers additional resources and examples to include in an implementation plan. Utilizing platforms like Early Learning Indiana25 can provide solutions to providers interested in professional development opportunities. Improve Sta Wellness and Job Satisfaction The Administration for Children and Families recommends childcare facilities support sta wellness26 by improving the work environment and creating a healthy and safe environment for sta and children. Strategies include addressing the importance of sta psychological well-being, maximizing job satisfaction opportunities, and developing a culture of overall organizational wellness. 24 National Center on Early Childhood Development, n.d. 25 Early Learning Indiana. Welcome Providers, n.d. 26 Oce of Early Childhood Development; An Oce of the Administration for Children & Families, September 13, 2022. PAGE 19UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Consider Expanded Services Through Childcare Service Networks The Administration for Children and Families27 recommends that childcare facilities develop local, regional, or state childcare networks to create opportunities for growth and support for childcare providers. By combining resources, services, or other integrations, childcare facilities can create a strong, unied network to expand shared resources of the existing early childhood care system. Some options can also be seen as gains via the eciency of scale, driving down shared administrative costs for a network of providers. For example, a common payroll or HR team is one approach to reduce administrative overhead and, in some cases, better employee service. 27 Expanded Services, n.d. Explore Overnight / Multiple Shift Care Services Although benecial for shift parents, overnight care is a challenging solution for providers to implement. Overnight care is simply an opportunity to leave children overnight or during non-traditional working hours with a credible childcare facility. Similarly to backup care, employers would need to identify the needs of employees and the impact of working with partners and providers to establish this care option. Additionally, working with other employers to identify overnight care needs could lead to developing partnerships and overnight care programs with local providers. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 20
Essentially, this non-partisan program is founded on the idea that childcare is more than just a family issue – at its core, it’s an economic issue. Not only does the lack of childcare impact children and parents, but it also impacts employers who are struggling to nd employees. It also impacts the state’s inability to recruit new businesses. Ultimately, it aects the public, who feel the eects of a population whose children did not meet the early learning benchmarks needed to thrive. Michigan reported that of the parents who participated in the pilots, the top two industries represented were manufacturing (22%) and the early care and education industry (19%).30 30 Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, n.d. Current and Emerging Childcare Models The following sections will outline the dierent types of current and emerging childcare models with specic case study samples. First, we will discuss the Tri-Share Model, an emerging model throughout the United States that shares paid responsibility for childcare. Next, the analysis will walk through dierent types of models besides the Tri-Share Model. Types of childcare models that have emerged thus far include childcare coalitions, community college and career and technical education learning models, foundation-led programs, employer-owned programs, childcare collaboratives, and state legislative models. Tri-Share Model, MichiganIn 2019, the country’s rst-ever Tri-Share program was piloted in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It became a national aordable childcare model during the COVID-19 Pandemic.The model, ocially launched in 2021, challenges the traditional cost burden of childcare on parents. Now, through MI Tri-Share,28 the cost of an employee’s childcare is shared equally among the employer, the employee, and the State of Michigan—a three-way split—with coordination provided regionally by an MI Tri-Share facilitator hub. The state has seen great success and has allocated over $2.5 million to the program since 2022. Michigan is utilizing a regional hub model, which created facilitator hubs that act as intermediaries between the State, employers, and employees. Within the pilot, the State began by creating three hubs, prioritizing managing the initiative’s day-to-day operations.29 28 Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, n.d. 29 Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, n.d. PAGE 21UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
The January 2024 EdSurge article, “One State Rolled Out a Promising Child Care Model. Now Others Are Replicating It,”31 covers the Tri-Share model and how other areas have modeled their Tri-Share programs, including Noble County, Indiana. A brief summary of the pros and cons of the Tri-Share model is included below: Pros of the Tri-Share Model: • Divides the burden equally among parents, employers, and the state, allowing each to benefit and achieve a goal that would be difficult for them individually. • Reduces employee absenteeism. • Helps employees recruit and retain employees.• Focuses on families who likely would not be able to have childcare otherwise. Cons of the Tri-Share Model: • Requires much public understanding, support, and advocacy to implement. • Does not directly increase available spots (although long-term goals include stabilizing childcare provider revenue and increasing wages for childcare providers). • Requires providers to be state-licensed, which could exclude or create burdens for in-home providers. • The Michigan pilot evaluation found the pilot to be racially inequitable (although this is not inherent to the model itself). 31 Sullivan, January 30, 2024. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 22
Tri-Share Model Variations Several states, including Indiana, have started creating variations of the original Tri-Share model conducted in Michigan. The following section outlines some additional versions of the Tri-Share Model, including the Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition, Thrive by Five, and Smart Start Tri-Share. Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition, Tri-Share Plus Program, Indiana The Northeast Indiana Early Childhood Coalition (NEIECC) introduced the Tri-Share Plus program,32 a groundbreaking initiative designed to provide more aordable care for employees in Northeast Indiana. With Tri-Share Plus, employers can split the cost of care in three ways: through grant funds, the parents, and the NEIECC. This innovative approach benets employers by reducing their nancial burden and supports childcare providers in delivering high-quality services. By partnering with NEIECC and implementing Tri-Share Plus, employers can ensure that their employees can access reliable and aordable childcare options, ultimately enhancing employee satisfaction and productivity. The NEIECC is vital in building a comprehensive resource network for childcare providers, including the Indiana Early Learning Hub. This initiative supports early childhood educators by providing them with essential tools and information to enhance their teaching practices. The Indiana Early Learning Hub is a centralized platform where providers can access resources such as lesson plans, curriculum guides, professional development opportunities, and research-based strategies. By oering this robust network, the NEIECC is strengthening the quality of early childhood education in Northeast Indiana and empowering childcare providers to create enriching learning experiences for young children. 32 NEIECC, June 5, 2024. Thrive by Five, Tri-Share Program, Noble County, Indiana Beginning in 2023, the Noble County Tri-Share Program pilot was launched to assist individuals with childcare barriers and challenges, specically emphasizing the aordability of high-quality childcare. Utilizing County Economic Development Income Tax revenue, Noble County Commissioners allocated $50,000 to fund the project. The model splits the cost of childcare in three ways: funding through CEDIT, parents, and employers who opt to participate in the program.33Smart Start, Tri-Share Program, North Carolina Similar to the original model produced in Michigan, North Carolina has also developed a Tri-Share Program to assist with the childcare crisis. The North Carolina Partnership for Children (NCPC) is partnering with the Division of Child Development and Early Education to launch the project. North Carolina representatives allocated $900,000 to be divided among three facilitation hubs. Families that qualify for this pilot include those who are employed by a participating business and have a household income between 185% and 300% of the federal poverty level. In addition, the eligible participants must otherwise be ineligible for other subsidized care.3433 Thrive by Five, n.d. 34 Smart Start, February 1, 2024. PAGE 23UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Childcare Coalitions Childcare coalitions are groups of people and/or organizations representing similar ideas that create a formal body or organization to address specic issues related to the childcare crisis. Below, this analysis will discuss examples of childcare coalitions, including the Black Hawk County Child Care, Childcare Coalition of Alaska, Baltimore City Child Care Coalition, and Oregon Childcare Coalition. Black Hawk County Child Care, IowaLaunching in 2017, the Black Hawk County Child Care Coalition was established by the partnership of CCR&R of Northeast Iowa, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, and other local organizations. Through this model, the originators of the coalition engaged the community and developed partnerships with infrastructure developers, hospitals, and private philanthropists to spur investment. Community support has strongly favored the coalition’s eorts, and the alliance has seen signicant investment and nancial support.35The Childcare Coalition of AlaskaRepresented by a statewide group of civic organizations, childcare providers, parents, and supporters, the Alaska Child Care Coalition’s goal is that “everyone can nd high-quality child care that they can aord in the setting of their choice so that all children will be ready for kindergarten.”36 Although their current eorts focus on advocacy, the Alaska Child Care Coalition is dedicated to the goal of promoting well-compensated and trained childcare providers, promoting equity for families and providers, and developing a family-friendly culture. 35 Ingram, June 2024. 36 Child Care Coalition of Alaska, n.d. Baltimore City Child Care Coalition, Maryland The Baltimore City Child Care Coalition is a non-prot 501(c)(3) organization whose main goal is to develop ongoing partnerships with the Maryland State Department of Education and Legislators to work towards solutions to the childcare crisis. The coalition meets monthly to continue its vision and provides free training on childcare topics for participants. Oregon Childcare CoalitionAccording to its website, the Oregon Childcare Coalition “is a group of parents, providers, and professionals passionate about increasing access to childcare, daycare, and preschool in Marion County.”37 The coalition provides childcare sign-up, childcare center information, information on becoming a provider, family resources, and childcare data, among many other resources. It aims to ensure that all families have access to quality, aordable childcare. 37 Oregon Childcare Coalition, n.d. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 24
Community College and Career & Technical Education (CTE) Learning Models Community colleges and universities nationwide also provide solutions to the childcare crisis by developing university/college-owned childcare options. Typically, these options are available to students and sta and oer subsidized childcare costs. Below, we will discuss a few samples of dierent community college and career & technical education learning models in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Indianapolis, Indiana, and a nationwide model. Ivy Tech Fort Wayne Childcare Options for Students, Fort Wayne, Indiana In June 2023, the Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne location, partnered with the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne to bring the YMCA Childwatch Site, an on-campus childcare facility for parents enrolled at the college. This initiative was spurred by a 2022 student survey, which found that 95% of students who responded said there was a need for childcare options on campus.38Butler University Early Childhood Educator Certicate Program, Indianapolis, IndianaIn the fall of 2023, Butler University of Indianapolis launched the Early Childhood Educator Certicate Program.39 This fast-track program aims to address the nationwide crisis in early childhood education, particularly in Indiana, where a signicant percentage of children and families lack access to high-quality childcare services. The program consists of 12 courses, each four weeks, totaling 960 hours, and can be completed in approximately 15 months. 38 Wane.com, May 18, 2023. 39 Butler University, n.d.Kids on Campus Initiative, NationwideCommunity colleges nationwide can provide relief for working parents pursuing higher education by partnering with Head Start Programs. In February 2024, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the National Head Start Association (NHSA) launched the Kids on Campus Initiative40 to bring more Head Start programs to community college campuses. The program aims to connect community colleges with unused space and Head Start programs. For at least the next ve years, through the Kids on Campus initiative, we will provide guidance and technical assistance to the campuses and programs as they navigate negotiations and renovations, turning an initial introduction into a thriving partnership. In their March 2024 NPR article, “The new kids on campus? Toddlers, courtesy of Head Start”, the authors further describe the benets of the partnership between community colleges and Head Start programs and how the program supports the pipeline of future childcare workers.4140 ACCT, February 6, 2024. 41 Nadworny, March 11, 2024. PAGE 25UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Foundation-led Programs The Council on Foundations denes a community foundation as a grantmaking public charity dedicated to improving the quality of life of individuals in geographic areas.42 In many communities, community foundations provide crucial funding for infrastructure development, programs, resources, and events. Displayed below are dierent community-led childcare models in Wabash Indiana, Kosciusko County, Indiana, Rapid City, South Dakota, and Ashland, Ohio. 42 Council on Foundations, n.d. Community Foundation of Wabash County, Discounted Child Care Program, IndianaThe Community Foundation of Wabash County was awarded $750,000 from the State of Indiana’s Employer-Sponsored Child Care Fund.43 For up to one year, licensed childcare centers, ministries, and homes in Wabash County will oer discounts on fees to families employed by a Grow Wabash County or Manchester Alive member. Enrollment for the program began in April 2024. Kosciusko Community Foundation, Childcare Options for School Sta, Warsaw, IndianaIn February of 2024, Warsaw Community Schools in Kosciusko County, Indiana, was awarded $303,000 by the Kosciusko County Community Foundation in partnership with LaunchPad.44 This investment provides onsite care for Warsaw Community Schools sta to oer training resources for early learning professionals and build childcare programs in the County. This includes a Child Development Associate (CDA) training program for Warsaw Area Career Center students that allows them to receive CDA through Ivy Tech and start a pathway to careers in childcare. 43 WFFT, April 2, 2024. 44 Polston, February 29, 2024. John T. Vucurevich Foundation, Rapid City, South Dakota The John T. Vucurevich Foundation, a private foundation located in Rapid City, has developed its own version of the Tri-Share Model. The foundation has invested nearly half a million dollars in developing a pilot Tri-Share model in Rapid City, South Dakota. The model is in its early stages but proposes splitting childcare costs between parents, employers, and a community fund. The pilot focuses on developing additional business partnerships and continued advocacy for solutions to address childcare challenges. 45Women’s Fund Childcare Initiative, Ashland, OhioThe Women’s Fund Childcare Initiative is a development led by the Women’s Fund Steering Committee of Ashland County Community Foundation. Its goal is to expand access to quality, aordable childcare in Ashland County by developing a childcare center. Their partnership has also expanded to include a non-prot 501(c)(3) organization, Foundations Community Childcare. This entity will oversee and operate the funded childcare center. The funding model incorporates various assistance measures, including income-based and employer-supported tuition assistance, grant funding, and endowment. 4645 Raposa, October 11, 2023. 46 Women’s Fund Initiative, n.d. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 26
Employer-Owned ProgramsThe employer-owned programs displayed below outline the current strategies some employers are utilizing to provide childcare to their employees. These models are owned by a business and are often exclusively for the children of employees of the business. In rural areas, on-site employer-owned childcare is essential in combating distance and capacity challenges. Throughout this section, we analyze three dierent types of employer-owned programs operating in rural America. Appleseed Childhood Education and Franciscan Health, Rensselaer, IndianaIn the Fall of 2022, in Rensselaer, Indiana, a partnership between Appleseed Childhood Education and Franciscan Health created a solution that addressed two challenges of the rural community: access to quality early childhood education and recruiting and retaining qualied healthcare professionals at a local hospital while supporting the town’s ability to grow by attracting young families. In 2023, the partnership established a new, $1 million, 7,500-square-foot early childhood education (ECE) center that is the rst licensed ECE option for families in the community since 2018.47Toyota North America, Georgetown, Kentucky and Princeton, Indiana Toyota, a signicant employer in North America, has been providing an innovative employer-owned solution to childcare for its employees. Partnering with Bright Horizons, the company has provided onsite, 24-hour daycare for employees’ children since 1993 in Kentucky and 2003 in Indiana. The care facilities operate during standard Toyota operating hours; however, the facilities are also open overnight and on Saturdays for parents.48 This model could potentially assist with talent retention and talent attraction as part of an employment package. Tyson Tykes, Humboldt, TennesseeIn both 2021 and 2022, Tyson Foods started emphasizing the importance of childcare relative to workforce throughout their business. Partnering with KinderCare, Tyson Foods began constructing an early childhood learning center that will provide access and aordable childcare to Tyson Foods employees. The pilot project represents awareness of the importance of childcare. The center will support approximately 100 children and have 18 employees. The cost is also subsidized for Tyson Foods employees.4947 IFF, October 26, 2024. 48 NAM, January 9, 2022. 49 Tyson Foods, April 20, 2022. PAGE 27UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
Childcare Collaboratives Childcare collaboratives are another model that has been formed. Collaboratives are groups of individuals with similar ideas who wish to advocate to a larger audience on critical issues. In addition, collaboratives advocate for childcare planning, facility development, legislative action, and the development of funding mechanisms. Below are three examples of dierent types of childcare collaboratives from South Dakota, South Carolina, and California. Sioux Falls Childcare Collaborative, South DakotaThe Sioux Falls Childcare Collaborative is a partnership with Sioux Falls Thrive with the goal of improving student success. The primary objectives of the collaborative include “develop a strategy for funding that combines two crucial needs: aordable tuition for families, and a salary plan that rewards and retains sta, build a better understanding of the childcare industry among government and business leaders, provide a plan for improved stang levels and long-term sta retention, create a mechanism for engaging parents and a larger community in the childcare discussion.”50 50 Sioux Falls Thrive, n.d. South Carolina Child Care Inclusion CollaborativeFunded by the Department of Social Services Division of Early Care and Education, the South Carolina Child Care Inclusion Collaborative is a program that provides services to childcare providers at no cost. Emphasizing training, the collaborative’s goal is to provide “individualized training and technical assistance for childcare providers to support the inclusion of children with disabilities/developmental delays in childcare programs.”51 In addition, the collaborative provides various online and printable resources including an Online Resource Guide, a searchable database on early learning.52The Quality Child Care Collaborative, Sacramento, California The Quality Child Care Collaborative in Sacramento, California, was developed to create partnerships with caregivers and provide support. The collaborative identies relationship building, engaging with parents, professional growth activities, onsite training and consultation, strengthening leadership, reective practice, health & safety practices, measuring program quality, supporting children’s learning, positive discipline and guidance, inclusion for all children and families, and culturally responsive caregiving as pivotal components to quality childcare.5351 South Carolina Child Care Inclusion Initiative. About, n.d. 52 South Carolina Child Care Inclusion Initiative. Resources, n.d. 53 The Quality Child Care Collaborative, n.d. UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 28
State Legislative Models The following represent examples of dierent types of legislation that have aected and impacted childcare across the country. Although many of the following examples are circumstantial and most often rely on their natural amenities and resources, these samples can spur innovative discussions about solutions related to childcare. Universal Early Child Care, New Mexico In November 2022, New Mexico became the rst state to guarantee a right to early childhood education.54 A portion of the state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund, nearly $150 million annually, will be allocated to early childhood programs. Voters approved the allocation of funding and amended the state constitution to include the right to education for children ages zero to ve. 2024 House Bill 561, Kentucky House Bill 561, “AN ACT relating to childcare,” introduces a program to create “Certied Child Care Community Designation.” This designation would foster support for local governments to identify zoning barriers and amend regulations to support existing or new childcare facilities for future expansions. The Certied Child Care Community Designation would cultivate opportunities for local elected ocials, childcare businesses, major employers, and other key community stakeholders, like the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, to address pressing childcare needs in Kentucky. House Bill 561 passed out of the Senate on March 21st. 54 Early Learning Nation, November 9, 2022. The 2023 Child Care Bill (Act 76), Vermont In June 2023, the Vermont Legislature passed the 2023 Child Care Bill55, which includes long-term, sustainable public funding to support childcare challenges, including accessible, aordable, and high-quality childcare. This annual $125 million investment expands childcare nancial assistance to over 7,000 families, increases funding to support childcare stang and capacity at the local level, and promotes minimum pay standards for early childhood education. 55 Let’s Grow Kids, n.d. PAGE 29UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
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National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services (2023, January). Childcare Need and Availability in Rural Areas. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/les/hrsa/advisory-committees/rural/nac-rural-child-care-brief-23.pdfNEIECC (2024, June 5). New program to lower child care costs for northeast Indiana workers. WFYI Indianapolis. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/new-program-to-lower-child-care-costs-for-northeast-indiana-workers NTCA Rural Broadband Association (n.d.). Our Members. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.ntca.org/about-us/our-members An Oce of the Administration of Children and Families (2024, August 26). CCDF Final Regulations. Oce of Child Care. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/law-regulation/ccdf-nal-regulations An Oce of The Administration for Children and Families (n.d.). Expanded Services. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/expanded-services Oce of Early Childhood Development An Oce of the Administration for Children & Families (2022, September 13). Sta Wellness Initiatives. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ecd/sta-wellness-initiatives Oce of Early Childhood and Out-Of-School Learning (n.d.). Employer-Sponsored Child Care Grants. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from https://www.in.gov/fssa/carender/les/6240-Employee-Sponsored-Child-Care-Fund-Awards.pdf Oregon Childcare Coalition (n.d.). Oregon Childcare Coalition. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://oregonchildcarecoalition.org/ Polston, K. (2024, February 29). IMMEDIATE RELEASE: WARSAW SCHOOLS RECEIVES SIGNIFICANT FUNDING BOOST FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAM FROM KOSCIUSKO COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION. Warsaw Community Schools. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.warsaw.k12.in.us/article/1482925 The Quality Child Care Collaborative (n.d.). The Quality Child Care Collaborative. Child Action. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from http://docs.childaction.org/handouts/QCCC_Handout_EN.pdf Raposa, M. (2023, November 11). How Rapid City is Working to Solve it’s Childcare Crisis. Sioux Falls Simplied. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.sfsimplied.com/how-rapid-city-is-nding-childcare-solutions/ Rodriquez, J. (2024, January 8). Child Care Gaps in Rural America Threaten to Undercut Small Communities. Chalkbeat. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.chalkbeat.org/2024/01/08/rural-child-care-gaps-threaten-to-undercut-small-communities/Shmidt, I. (2022, July 13). Five Ways To Bring Women Back Into The Workforce After A Career Break. Forbes. Retrieved February 26, 2024, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/07/13/ve-ways-to-bring-women-back-into-the-workforce-after-a-career-break/?sh=46b06422543c Shrove, J. (2022, April 28). Employer Guide to Childcare Assistance and Tax Credits. U.S Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://www.uschamber.com/assets/documents/024285_Fed_Childcare-Guide_v2.pdf (n.d.). Employer Roadmap Childcare Solutions for Working Parents. U.S Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://chamber-foundation.les.svdcdn.com/production/documents/ECE-Employer-Roadmap_March-2022_web.pdf?dm=1704748799Sioux Falls Thrive (n.d.). Sioux Falls Childcare Collaborative. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://siouxfallsthrive.org/sfcc/ Smart Start (2024, February 1). Smart Start Will Implement Tri-Share Pilot Program, Increasing Access to High-Quality Aordable Child Care. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.smartstart.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/MEDIA-RELEASE-2.1.2024-Smart-Start-Implements-Tri-Share.pdf UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA PAGE 32
South Carolina Child Care Inclusion Collaborative (n.d.). About. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.scinclusion.org/about/ South Carolina Child Care Inclusion Collaborative (n.d.). Resources. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.scinclusion.org/resources/ State of Indiana, Family and Social Services Administration (n.d.). Oce of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. https://www.in.gov/fssa/carender/. Sullivan, E. T. (2024, January 30). One State Rolled Out a Promising Child Care Model. Now Others Are Replicating It. EdSurge. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-01-30-one-state-rolled-out-a-promising-child-care-model-now-others-are-replicating-it Thrive by Five (n.d.). Noble County Tri-Share Program. https://noblethriveby5.org/tri-share/ Tucker, J. (2022, February 1). Men Have Now Recouped Their Pandemic-Related Labor Force Losses While Women Lag Behind. National Women’s Law Center. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://nwlc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/January-Jobs-Day-updated.pdf#:~:text=The%20most%20recent%20Bureau%20of%20Labor%20Statistics%20%28BLS%29,have%20caused%20continued%20school%20and%20child%20care%20disrupti-ons.?msclkid=c3b59dbfb4d911eca4104e48711ae748Turner, C. (2024, March 6). Should the Government do More to Help Children? This Bipartisan Group Thinks So. NPR. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1234030355/child-tax-credit-childcare Tyson Foods (2022, April 20). Tyson Foods Breaks Found on Childcare Facility for Humboldt, Tennessee, Team Members. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.tysonfoods.com/news/news-releases/2022/4/tyson-foods-breaks-ground-childcare-facility-humboldt-tennessee-team The University of Texas at Austin (n.d.). The Comprehensive Guide to Returnships: What They Are and How to Secure One. University of Texas at Austin Boot Camps. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://techbootcamps.utexas.edu/blog/the-comprehensive-guide-to-returnships/ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023, January 25). Median earnings for women in 2022 were 83.0 percent of the median for men. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/median-earnings-for-women-in-2022-were-83-0-percent-of-the-median-for-men.htm U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2022, April 28). Employer Guide to Childcare Assistance and Tax Credits. Retrieved June 24, 2024 from https://www.uschamber.com/workforce/employer-guide-to-childcare-assistance-and-tax-creditsU.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (n.d.). Employer Roadmap Childcare Solutions for Working Parents. Retrieved June 24, 2024, from https://chamber-foundation.les.svdcdn.com/production/documents/ECE-Employer-Roadmap_March-2022_web.pdf?dm=1704748799U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2024, August 26). National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations. Child Care Technical Assistance Network. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://licensingregulations.acf.hhs.gov/ U.S. Oce of Personnel Management (n.d.). Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Retrieved June 24, 2024 from https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/work-life-faq/employee-assistance-program-eap/what-is-an-employee-assistance-program-eap/ Wane.com (2023, May 18). Ivy Tech students now have childcare options at Fort Wayne campus. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/ivy-tech-students-now-have-childcare-options-at-fort-wayne-campus/Weissman, S. (2023, April 5). Matching Community Colleges and Head Start. Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved August 1, 2024, from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2023/04/05/partnership-aims-bring-head-start-community-colleges WFFT (2024, April 2). Community Foundation of Wabash receives $750,000 grant to make childcare more aordable. Retrieved July 1, 2024, from https://www.wt.com/news/local/community-foundation-of-wabash-receives-750-000-grant-to-make-childcare-more-aordable/article_fb7fd10a-f108-11ee-a7eb-d7097403af67.htmlPAGE 33UNDERSTANDING CHILDCARE CHALLENGES IN RURAL AMERICA
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