Lack of child care costs Nebraskans $745 million per year, according to a report released by First Five Nebraska.
Minus 3 months of my professional career, I have worked for myself. I scheduled work around my children by choice. I never had the challenge of acquiring quality childcare, paying a childcare bill, finding a backup provider. My back up was my next-door neighbor, which happened to be my very gracious in-laws, and the rest of my family.
When my children were older, I became a board member for our church’s non-profit childcare center. Shortly after joining the board, I reluctantly acted as interim childcare center director due to an abrupt exit by the last director. My credentials to function as the acting director included business administration knowledge and the fact that I was a breathing volunteer. Beyond those two facts, I had no qualifications to run a center. Be that as it may, 68 children, 12 staff members, and several families counted on that center, and I didn’t want to let them down. I quickly realized how tough it was to make ends meet, maintain staff, meet ratios, and deal with licensing. A much more significant challenge was relationships. The relationships are complex and interwoven. I learned childcare centers are a tough business, but one of the most critical community business.
A few years later, as an economic development consultant, I really started to see how crucial affordable quality childcare is for a community’s continued growth. Parents work. 75% of Nebraska children require childcare. These children need childcare that supports their social-emotional skills and prepares them for long-term success in their education. Employers need childcare to attract and retain a skilled labor force.
If a person can find a job but can’t care for their children in the community, your community loses. That person may still work in your community, but they won’t be engaged in your community. They won’t build bonds, they won’t support community development. They will take their paychecks and their heartstrings to wherever they reside. According to First Five Nebraska, lack of childcare costs Nebraskans $745 million per year. Think of the financial burden a shortage of childcare imposes on your community.
So what does your community do to provide quality childcare?
It all starts with a conversation
- Engage your community stakeholders
- Identify the need
- Create a vision that answers the need
- Create accountable and measurable goals
- Develop a plan
- Implement your plan
- Celebrate with your community
It’s tricky to pull all the pieces together that actually help a community attain their goal. In the end, creating quality, affordable childcare in your area is a critical component of building your community and caring for your residents.
If you are interested in learning how to start the conversation, develop the plan, and implement a strategy to get childcare in your community, reach out. I would love to help your group have a conversation that helps put your community on a path to solve your childcare issues.
