Organizations in the Fox Cities region are working to make child care more affordable and reliable.
Access to child care is critical for workforce and economic development in the Fox Cities region. Affordable and reliable child care services enable parents to enter or remain in the workforce, contributing to increased productivity and economic growth. Like in many communities, the Fox Cities region is facing a provider shortage, which makes access to child care more difficult for working parents. Organizations, such as Child Care Resource & Referral (CCRR) and First 5 Fox Valley (F5FV), however, are working to make child care more available to all families.
“Affordable child care is a major issue for every community, not just the Fox Valley, and it affects all facets of the community. It affects the workforce because people can’t work if they don’t have someone to watch their children. And that impacts the economy,” says Candy Hall, executive director of CCRR. “Child care makes a big impact on quality of life because it allows parents, particularly mothers, to be able to go out and work and make a living, and that enhances their quality of life.”
Investments in child care infrastructure also create jobs and stimulate local economies by supporting the growth of small businesses. CCRR works to connect families with quality child care options, supporting working families while fostering a thriving child care industry in the Fox Cities region. In addition to keeping a comprehensive database of certified providers, the organization also offers training to child care workers and certification services for parents who want to become providers themselves.
Many times, one of the quickest ways to add more child care options is to certify people to open child care in their own homes.
“So we have a certification specialist on staff,” Hall says. “We also offer training and advice to current child care providers. They may have questions about things like staffing or room arrangements, and we can offer support and advice.”
Hall says another way CCRR is combating child care provider shortages is through a substitute worker program. With help from an Outagamie County grant, the organization provides substitutes to allow workers to be able to take time off without a disruption in care.
For its part, F5FV connects families and child care providers to early childhood development resources. For example, F5FV helps them find dental or vision checkups or mental health care, provides information about immigration and citizenship, and teaches parents about child development and screenings.
In 2023, the organization was awarded an Outagamie County grant to open a new Family Resource Center.
By Teree Caruthers on August 22, 2024
Livability Magazine
