Child Care Crisis Causing Families to Be Unable to Work – By Anonymous

Coles County and the surrounding communities are continually seeing a decline in child care centers and homes. Families are often left with one parent having to stay home in order to care for their child/children, causing a drastic fluctuation in their income. This situation often creates an upswing in the number of families needing state assistance to cover child care, food, and housing.  

The Smart Start grant for child care centers has allowed employers to finally be able to pay their employees a professional wage. However, it is not solving the problem of finding staff. The grant is a band aid, helping in one area, but it is not a one solution fix all.  

The State does not see this area as a desert area, yet here we are with no Head Start, not enough child care, and families continually suffering. I recognize that we are not the only area struggling.  

We need a solution! Grants to entice more businesses to open, fair pay for all, work with local colleges to promote Early Childhood education, provide funds to build and open more Preschool for All (PFA) and Preschool for All Expansion (PFA-E) classrooms. Fix the problem, do not just add band aids.