There are many challenges facing the childcare industry, but the COVID-19 pandemic was the straw that broke the camel’s back for daycare centers and families in our community. Since the pandemic childcare centers are struggling to stay open, hire and retain staff, and provide consistent staffing that allows them to operate at capacity and provide the quality care they strive for. These struggles are felt heavily by many families in our community who need affordable, quality daycare.
During the pandemic, thousands of parents left the workforce to care for children and many are struggling to return. With inflation, soaring costs of housing, and private-pay childcare, parents often must make difficult choices based on economic needs and realities. In many cases, it costs the family more to put their children in childcare than one parent makes at work, forcing a choice between childcare or a career. Many families indicate multiple barriers to finding care including cost, lack of openings, needing non-traditional hours, and a lack of quality care available. As a result, many families have chosen to have one parent leave the workforce altogether. Having a large portion of the workforce need to stay home for economic reasons adds to the difficulties that daycares face in being able to remain open and provide quality care with affordable options.
“…childcare centers are struggling to stay open, hire and retain staff, and provide consistent staffing…”
For the last six months, the SWC has been focused on developing funds to support the childcare crisis in our community as a response to these challenges. With $2 million received from Spokane County from their American Rescue Plan allocation and another $1.5 million committed from Senator Patty Murray’s Congressional Directed Spending coming in 2023, the SWC plans to support families who do not meet state subsidy criteria but who want to return to work and/or school, childcare providers, and businesses.
SWC leadership is convening an advisory group of early learning professionals, associates, providers, and state-level advocates. To stay current on the initiative, we will be keeping this website updated with frequently asked questions, and all information will be housed here when support for families and providers goes live in early 2023. www.spokaneresourcecenter.org/childcare.
If your organization would like to take part in this initiation contact Jessica Clayton at JClayton@SpokaneWorkforce.org.
Learn about other Spokane Workforce Council initiatives at www.spokaneworkforce.org.
