Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Childcare Availability topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County leaders call childcare shortage a barrier to workforce retention in Trempealeau County
Summary
County supervisors and Health and Human Services staff described a shortage of licensed childcare slots across the county and urged state lawmakers to consider funding and subsidy reforms to stabilize providers and increase availability.
County Supervisor Renee Lyons and Health and Human Services officials told visiting legislators that Trempealeau County lacks sufficient licensed childcare and that the shortage affects employers, health systems and families.
"We all understand, the tremendous need for adequate and affordable childcare in Wisconsin," said Renee Lyons, Trempealeau County Board Supervisor. Lyons cited reporting that "childcare is in crisis" in Wisconsin and summarized proposed remedies including increased funding, stronger subsidies and higher early-educator wages.
Jay Hein, Director of Trempealeau County Health and Human Services, said the county could not provide an exact count of licensed childcare slots during the briefing and identified "deserts" of providers across rural and more populated communities alike.
"I don't know the license numbers because those are, we would be able to get those through the state," Hein said. He said the county tracks certified providers used in its economic-support programs and that the overall shortfall is evident in employers losing workers when care options vanish.
Presenters linked the childcare shortage to workforce retention in hospitals and other employers. One example cited during a tour of a regional health system described employees leaving when childcare centers closed. County leaders asked legislators to support measures to stabilize providers and strengthen subsidies so families can afford care.
No formal legislative proposal was adopted in the meeting; county officials asked legislators to consider funding and policy changes as the state budget is finalized and to maintain a focus on childcare in upcoming deliberations.
