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Alachua County approves study and pilot planning for 24-hour childcare to aid shift workers
Summary
Commissioners directed staff to build a cross-departmental team and pursue a stepped pilot for a 24-hour childcare and workforce-development program after staff reported strong employee interest and preliminary cost modeling.
Alachua County commissioners voted to move forward with planning and pilot development of a 24-hour childcare program aimed primarily at shift workers, first responders and other employees with nontraditional hours.
Jessica Hirav, the county's tourism and economic development director, told the board staff had collected nearly 900 responses to an employee survey and used Department of Children and Families ratios to model a potential center. "Seventy-one percent expressed interest in it," Hirav said, summarizing the survey results. Staff's very preliminary model assumed a daytime capacity of about 120 children with reduced transition and overnight capacity and an estimated core staff of roughly 15 full-time caregivers plus apprentices and trainees.
Why it matters: Commissioners framed the plan as both a recruitment-and-retention tool for public safety and a workforce-development opportunity. Staff emphasized three pillars: supporting employee recruitment and retention, creating career pathways with Santa Fe College and other partners, and repurposing underused public facilities to lower capital costs.
What the board instructed: The commission approved a motion directing staff to: - Form a cross-functional county team (facilities, HR, legal, public works, parks, OMB) and convene partners including Santa Fe College, the Children's Trust and local providers to design a pilot; - Explore a stepped approach starting with small pilots or partnerships (for example with the SWAG child center) rather than building a large county-run facility immediately; - Formalize partner commitments (MOUs) to strengthen any future legislative or grant requests; - Begin legislative outreach and continue identifying grant opportunities; and - Develop a business plan and refined budget model to return to the board for an approval vote.
Board reaction and next steps: Several commissioners urged caution on scale and funding but supported the pilot approach and workforce-training emphasis. Commissioners also asked staff to consider safeguards for required caregiver certification, potential stipend or pay support for trainees, and ways to ensure that training benefits the broader community as well as county employees. Staff will return with detailed cost modeling, partner commitments and a recommended pilot design.
