While the Iowa Legislature passed a bill this year addressing child care issues, Washington Economic Development Group believes more work should be done to adequately increase the number of child care providers and slots.

A bill on Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk raises the maximum child-to-staff ratios at child care centers, from one worker supervising six two-year-olds now up to seven, and now 10 three-year-olds, up from eight. It also allows 16 and 17 year olds to care for school-aged children in these facilities without adult supervision. WEDG Executive Director Mary Audia says the problem is finding people to fill childcare positions when providers are not able to afford adequate income, “One of the things we’d like to do is start working with our local industry. See if we can come up with some collaborative ideas on how to compensate our workforce better. Especially in the childcare arena, because I think that’s one of the biggest issues.”

WEDG has been actively pursuing child care collaborations with three entities in Washington County, including Pleasantview Home in Kalona. Though workforce availability and rising building costs have created barriers to advancement for some businesses. Audia says they are continuing to promote the results of the countywide childcare study conducted last year with First Children’s Finance, which found the county is lacking about 844 needed child care slots. You can hear more about this and workforce topics from Audia during Friday’s Halcyon House Washington Page on air and at kciiradio.com.