By Becky Gulden
It may come as no surprise to parents with young children, but according to Child Care Choices, families in Miami County are paying four times more than what the federal government considers sustainable for childcare and that’s if they can find quality childcare at all.
That’s why Child Care Choices has started a new community initiative called Child Care IS Education.
Karen Stienecker, Food Program Director at Child Care Choices, says the goal is to raise awareness about the childcare crisis in Miami County and engage local stakeholders in creating solutions.
“It is no secret to us that Miami County, along with the rest of the nation, is experiencing a severe and extended crisis of childcare. This crisis has resulted in hardships in many areas of our community and economy. From lost productivity due to parents having to call off from work to care for their children, to a dramatic decline in kindergarten readiness due to an understaffed and underappreciated care force,” said Stienecker.
One barrier to quality childcare is the cost. According to Stienecker, the federal government states that to have a thriving economy the amount a family pays for childcare should not exceed 7 percent of their income. Currently in Miami County, a family with children under the age of 5 is spending 28 percent of their income on childcare, and 45 percent of Miami county families state that they cannot afford childcare.
Another issue is the scarcity of childcare centers. According to Stienecker, there are only seven childcare centers per 1,000 children under the age of 5, and many families can’t find open spots.
“At Child Care Choices, we receive calls from parents on a regular basis begging for help finding care for their children. These parents, many who live in Tipp City, share their stories of how they are on the waitlist of every childcare center in the area and how none of them can take their children at this time. This is even more difficult in cases where the children have special needs or qualify for publicly funded childcare. It breaks our hearts at the end of these phone calls when we must tell the families that there is not a solution to their problem,” said Stienecker.
Of the spots available, most of them are only half-day preschool or before- and after-school care, leaving parents needing full-time care with few options. And for parents who work second shift, there are currently no overnight spots in Miami County, so families needing care at that time must travel to either Sidney or Dayton and most of those spots are already filled.
Another issue is staffing. Providers are struggling to stay staffed because childcare workers earn far less than comparable jobs. Stienecker says workers earn on average $12 an hour versus nearly the $20 an hour they could be making at fast food restaurants.
To help find solutions to this multi-faceted problem, the Tipp City Foundation has invested $4,000 in grant money to the Child Care IS Education campaign. Jim Ranft, distribution chair of the Tipp City Foundation, explains why Child Care Choices is so important for the community.
“Child Care Choices plays a significant role in children’s education by promoting early literacy and kindergarten readiness,” said Ranft. “The organization visits childcare centers and in-home providers to provide preschool-aged children with books and enrichment activities, fostering a love for reading and learning at an early age. Child Care Choices advocates for high-quality childcare environments, which significantly improves readiness for kindergarten. Our most recent grant to Child Care Choices is earmarked to address the critical shortage of affordable, high-quality childcare in Miami County.”
The money will be used to support activities focused on the Tipp City and Bethel Township area including production and distribution of early learning kits for parents, businesses, and childcare providers. They also held several events to build relationships with local families and spread the word.
“These funds help ensure the campaign effectively educates and mobilizes local stakeholders toward lasting childcare solutions,” said Stienecker. “Receiving support from the Tipp City Foundation means the community recognizes childcare as a shared priority and a form of essential education. The grant affirms that local leaders believe in investing in families, the workforce, and children’s futures.”
Success of the campaign will be measured in the following ways: increased collaboration and communication between parents, businesses, and childcare providers, community engagement outcomes such as participation in stakeholder events and distribution of Early Learning Kits, and long-term sustainability with programs continuing beyond the 18-month campaign and supported by businesses and donors.
If you want to learn more about the Tipp City Foundation and how to support community campaigns like this one, visit https://tippfoundation.org/ or call 937-528-2482.