Finding quality childcare in Wisconsin is a challenge, with long waitlists. It's also expensive. Many parents say they are paying more than their monthly mortgage or rent to have their children cared for while they work. And for single parents, it's a difficult road to navigate.
If you don’t have young children in your life, you may be thinking this topic doesn’t apply to you – but it does! Nearly nine in 10 working parents say childcare costs them time and productivity at work, which may mean more work for others or jobs that don’t get done. At the national level, according to a study from ReadyNation, the childcare crisis is costing our country $122 Billion dollars a year, because of lost earnings, productivity and taxes. For our state, in 2018, 50% of Wisconsinites, and 70% of Wisconsinites in rural areas, lived in a childcare desert, which is an area where childcare is not available, or the number of children exceeds the number of slots.
Childcare providers are not babysitters. They are trained professionals. But their poverty-level wages and minimal benefits contribute to high staff turnover in many centers, which affects availability and quality of care, and is the reason why many centers unfortunately are closing their doors.
Industry experts and childcare providers say finding a solution to all of this will require the efforts of government, employers and families working together. Like most complex issues facing us, there is no single solution that will address the shortage of care, centers’ high operating costs, workers’ very low wages and the exorbitant prices families pay for care.
So how do we as a community invest in solutions? We’re excited to tell you that a local task force, the Greater Fox Cities Childcare Alliance, is in talks right now specifically working on the provider compensation piece of the puzzle. In this episode we hear from the Alliance's Suzanne Brault. And we'll visit Joyful Beginnings Academy in Dale, just west of Appleton, where two moms have found a childcare solution that is attracting national news attention.
All the links in our Show Notes here:
https://www.cffoxvalley.org/podcast/childcare-crisis/
Neighbor to Neighbor
Building Tomorrow's Leaders
Hope for Addiction Recovery
Preserving the Voices of Rural History
Reflecting on Kaukauna And King
Scholarships: Making Futures Bright!
Pathways of Progress: Fox Valley's Transportation Terrain
Big Voices: Your Favorite Episodes!
Beyond Books! Exploring your library’s hidden treasures
Engaging Perspectives: Helping the Fox Valley Flourish
Stories of Home
Healthy Teens: Sources of Strength
Mental Health: Tangible Solutions for the Fox Valley
Libraries: Community Hubs for All
Game Changers! Celebrating Special Olympics
Local Podcasters Lift our Community
Art Making an Impact: Part2
Art Making an Impact!
Healthy Teen Minds
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Navigating Life After 40
Teaching Learning Leading K-12
Regenerative Skills
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast