Child Care in Wisconsin:
Parents can't afford to pay.
Providers can't afford to stay.
Why is child care so hard to find and so hard to afford? What barriers do providers and families face? What else in Wisconsin would work better if every child had the quality of care they need to grow and succeed? How can we get there?
Jen Bailey, Executive Director of REACH Dane
Peggy Haack, Outreach Coordinator at WECA
Demand is high and the need is greater than the supply. In fact, currently 54% of Wisconsin residents live in a child care desert, defined as a place where there are 3 or more children for every one available child care slot. Yet we are losing, not gaining, providers, especially in infant care. Peggy Haack, Outreach Coordinator at the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association will look at the problem from the perspective of a longtime child care provider in Madison, discuss the evolution of childcare in Wisconsin since the late ‘90s, and the impact of government support and regulatory structures. Jen Bailey, Executive Director of REACH Dane, will look at the problem from the perspective of families in Dane County. Together they will focus on what is currently being done and how others in the community are coming together to help find solutions.
We all have a stake in high quality, affordable childcare that helps parents to work and helps children to develop in safe and stimulating environments. Our speakers will identify some organizations, projects and legislative initiatives that you may want to support.
Resources
Study Materials | Wisconsin State Journal article about new DPI head’s priority for early childhood education. Wisconsin State Journal article about shortages of childcare workers.
Watch the video about Reach Dane that Jen Bailey showed.
The slides presented are available here in various formats:
Six slides per page in color | in black & white (for printing) (5 total pages)
Two slides per page in color | in black & white (for printing) (14 total pages)
No video recording was made because of an equipment failure.
Join other members at a unit meeting to discuss the issues raised in the study materials and at the forum. Make a plan to take action!
Unit meetings schedule
Photo by Jordan Rowland on Unsplash