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United Way warns of infant/toddler child-care slot shortage; plans Head Start grant application
Summary
United Way told the supervisors Albemarle County faces a shortfall of infant and toddler child-care slots and that the nonprofit aims to apply for a Head Start grant to restore some capacity; the organization also outlined scholarship, family-investment and small-business grant programs.
United Way of Greater Charlottesville presented an annual update to the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 4, flagging a large shortfall in early-childhood capacity and explaining a suite of programs the nonprofit runs to bolster child care, workforce supports and family resiliency.
Ravi Risperto, president and CEO, said the county's greatest early-childhood need is infant and toddler slots: United Way's analysis, using birth-rate and VDOE data, estimates roughly 929 infants and toddlers lack access to full-time care in the county. The agency identified the loss earlier this year of 205 Head Start slots as a major gap and said it plans to apply for a Head Start grant in January for roughly 150 slots across the region, with 40 to 50 slots planned for Albemarle County if awarded.
United Way also outlined programs it manages or funds: Ready Regions mixed-delivery placements (placing 514 children in quality early-education settings across the 21-county region), early-learner scholarships (county-contracted investment of $161,000 in the past fiscal year), a family investment program that helped 18 families purchase homes last year, and a Driving Lives program that provides affordable vehicle financing and plans a repair grant in partnership with Network to Work. The nonprofit also provided stipends to staff who remained after the local Head Start transition to support continuity of care.
"We have a severe shortage of early childcare slots," Risperto said. "Infant and toddler care is our greatest need right now." Board members thanked United Way and asked staff to consider joint presentations to align school, county and nonprofit data.
Supervisors expressed interest in coordinated action to address capacity, and staff said they would follow up with more data and consider the idea of a joint meeting with the school board to align planning.
