Local committee rolls out childcare survey and asks city to share QR link

Tom Wagner, representing the Elk County Child Care Strategic Planning Committee, urged the council to help publicize a community survey intended to map local childcare needs and options. Wagner said the committee hired a consultant from Pennsylvania Key to develop three surveys—for providers, employers and families—and that the survey is live now.

"We've already had over 300 people take the survey," Wagner said, and asked council members to post the flyer/QR code on the city's Facebook page and website to increase participation. He said the first step is building an evidence base to understand capacity, workforce shortages and affordability before recommending local actions such as tuition assistance, business supports or workforce training.

Wagner described the problem as both affordability and quality: the committee's recent community needs assessments identified childcare as a pressing issue, and Wagner noted three local childcare facilities closed in the past two years. He outlined committee membership—elected officials, employers and education representatives—and emphasized that the survey's goal is to identify priorities rather than to produce a perfect census.

Councilors replied they could share the link; one member asked whether the survey is live and when it will close. Wagner said it is accessible now and that the committee is planning to keep it open through the end of July but will not impose a strict hard stop. He encouraged residents to use the QR code or the Community Education Council website to participate.