Lack of available childcare slots and staff was highlighted during a presentation of a Washington County child care market analysis commissioned by Washington Economic Development Group.
WEDG commissioned First Children’s Finance with financial assistance from the cities of Washington, Kalona, Riverside, Wellman, Ainsworth and Brighton, as well as the East Central Iowa Council of Governments and Alliant Energy. First Children’s Finance works in Iowa, Minnesota, and other states to help increase the affordability and quality of early care and education for children, families and communities. The study included online surveys for parents, childcare centers, and employers to better understand the supply and demand for child care in the county and gain insight into the challenges experienced by stakeholders, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighteen child care centers or homes, 22 employers, and 237 families took part.
Senior Business Development Specialist Angie Rae Duncan gave a public presentation on the study’s key findings Monday at the Washington Public Library. Of the 112 page report, Duncan commented of her shock at learning that less than half of parents are using their preferred childcare setting. Issues voiced by parents include lack of part-time care and openings for infants. Forty-nine percent of employers that participated indicate they experienced challenges with productivity due to employee’s child care challenges, and 55% indicated they experienced absenteeism due to those challenges. There are an estimated 1,511 children in the county that likely need care within a Department of Human Services-regulated setting, while 667 year-round spaces are currently available. For staffing, the survey showed that 20 childcare employees departed in the last 12 months, with 14 positions currently vacant. Eighty percent of centers and 33% of homes indicated hiring in the last 12 months have been very difficult. Two centers and one home reported that they had to close a classroom or limit enrollment due to lack of staff.
Duncan gave next steps on how to address the findings, “First and foremost, is not overlooking your existing childcare programs. It’s easy to go, ‘Oh, we need eight hundred and some more slots let’s go build a big new childcare facility!’”
Duncan made the point that it is more affordable for already existing centers to expand or add another location rather than having a city try to open a brand new facility. One Washington County provider commented on the survey that they were excited to see that the issues daycares face are in the process of being addressed. WEDG Director Mary Audia says the full report will first be presented to the WEDG Board of Directors, where they will determine a distribution timeline to the other study investors and interested parties. A copy of the analysis key findings is included in this story at kciiradio.com. Comments, questions, and ideas for solutions can be made by contacting the WEDG office at (319) 653-3942 or emailing wedg@washingtoniowa.org.