New Funding Supports Strategy for Child Care Crisis
The lack of accessible, affordable child care in Lane County has long plagued families and employers, especially in the wake of the pandemic. Starting this month, the newly created position of Child Care Strategist will tackle this complex issue head-on.
The new position, part of the larger Sector Strategy Team at Onward Eugene, was formed after conversations between United Way of Lane County, Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, Lane Workforce Partnership, Lane Community College, and others, exploring how to create quality, affordable child care across the county. United Way secured funding to make this role possible.
This month, local early learning advocate Holly Mar-Conte was hired to take on this work. Mar-Conte brings over 15 years of experience working in local early learning systems and building community partnerships.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHILD CARE ACCESS
The results of this new position have the potential to create lasting positive impacts for local communities for years to come.
“High-quality early childhood care is the foundation for many long-term outcomes for kids. This includes increased health and wellness, higher graduation rates, fewer incarcerations, money saved in the k-12 system, and most importantly, children better prepared to be thriving, contributing members of our community. United Way knows how urgently we need to address this complex challenge, and are thrilled to help fund a position to tackle it.”
A student participates in an art project at Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Valley, an afterschool and summer child care provider in Eugene.
Addressing gaps in the child care system benefits more than just children.
Students at Boys and Girls Club of the Emerald Valley participated in painting a mural on the Dr. Edwin L. Coleman, Jr. Community Center in Eugene.
“This is not only a crisis for families seeking high-quality, affordable child care; it impacts local employers struggling to attract and retain talent,” said Matt Sayre, Managing Director of Onward Eugene. “Now with Holly Mar-Conte in this dedicated role at Onward Eugene, we are excited to join with regional partners in advancing solutions to this challenge.”
Studies show this crisis has a disproportionate impact on income-constrained families and women. In Lane County, during the second year of the pandemic, 6,700 local women left the workforce. Balancing work and family simply got a lot harder for all parents without child care, and the financial scales tipped.
This is a triple loss, as the workforce becomes less diverse, smaller, and children miss early childhood education opportunities. Even within the child care sector itself, providers have struggled to keep doors open, recruit and retain diverse staff, and more.
WORKING TOWARD A SOLUTION
Addressing such a complex issue will require a strategic, cross-sector approach. Having just started in the role last week, Mar-Conte will first convene a group of those most closely impacted by the issue – child care providers and families with young children – to surface added clarity on the most pressing challenges and develop relevant strategies that can be rapidly implemented.
In keeping with the sector strategy model, Mar-Conte will then broker partnerships between local businesses, community-based organizations, education, philanthropists, and government to expand equitable access to high quality, affordable early care and education.
“Our community is fortunate to have many of the pieces and relationships in place to address this complex issue. We know there are no simple answers, but I’m looking forward to co-creating innovative solutions to meet the diverse needs of Lane County’s families, child care providers, and broader workforce.”
Holly Mar-Conte, Child Care Sector Strategist
This kind of cross-sector, big picture work is possible thanks to United Way donors like you. With your support, we can continue to work to provide opportunities for a better life for all in Lane County. Give today.
Working to Address the Child Care Crisis - Lane Early Learning Alliance
The Lane Early Learning Alliance, Lane County’s education advocacy hub and an initiative of United Way, is also finding solutions to the child care crisis. They are currently compiling feedback from parents & caregivers, employers, and child care providers on their needs, perceived barriers, and potential solutions, as part of their ongoing work to support kids and families. This data will inform state funding decisions and policies to create more access and increase affordability of child care and early education. Beyond this annual survey, they also identify and convene early learning partners to move the needle on local barriers to child care access. The Early Learning Alliance will work with the newly hired Child Care Sector Strategist to share data and information and to ensure these efforts are aligned and coordinated.
Learn more about their work at earlylearningalliance.org.
View KVAL’s October 21 story on the Child Care Sector Strategist position here.