Working Towards Community Childcare Solutions
 | Author:
Allison Kosto, MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent |
Working Towards Community Childcare Solutions
Allison Kosto
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
Did you know that the labor force participation rate for Broadwater County is 47.7%? This is a figure that was established by the US Department of Labor Statistics. It is the percentage of the population that is either working or actively looking for work. By comparison, the state labor force participation rate is 62.3%. Why is our rate so much lower than the state rate? This is where it gets interesting and there are multiple factors that play into this figure. However, research shows that an influencer in workforce participation is the lack of affordable childcare.
A survey done by the Montana Department of Labor and Industry in 2020 found that about 6% of the state’s labor force relies on childcare arrangements to remain in the labor force. However, that same survey also found that Montana’s licensed childcare capacity only meets about 47% of the demand. In Broadwater County, this is even lower.
As of September 2022, there were six licensed childcare providers in Broadwater County which had the capacity for 66 children. There are an estimated 407 children under the age of 6 in the county, and about 156 children currently have working parents. It is probable that not all these children need childcare. However, last fall the childcare providers would have been able to provide care for less than half of that population. This also doesn’t consider parents who are currently not working because of a lack of childcare.
Now, the really bad news. Since September 2022, three licensed childcare providers have closed their doors in Broadwater County. Two closed from March to May of 2023. This just leaves three licensed providers in Townsend, and one of these providers is Headstart. Headstart is an early learning program targeted at low-income families that operates during the school year. It’s a great program, but it’s not a traditional daycare, so now we are down to two licensed childcare providers that provide daycare services. In total, they have the capacity for about 20 children. And on top of that, there are no licensed providers that will take infants in Townsend.
So what does this mean for the Townsend community and local businesses? Hardly a day goes by when I don’t hear about a local business looking for employees. Employee recruitment and retention is also a major issue in our community. Could this issue be directly linked to the lack of childcare? In my opinion, as well as what the research and data show, there is likely a strong connection. If parents do not have access to reliable and affordable childcare, then one parent will often opt to stay at home while their children are young.
So what can be done about this? Currently, there is a small group of interested community members who are looking at possible solutions. This group was formed from one of the priority areas identified in the Community Review that took place in 2022. They are looking at examples from other communities that successfully came together to manage the childcare gap. A good example is the city of Boulder which pooled resources from the school, city and a local nonprofit to develop a successful daycare. One of the major barriers for Townsend continues to be finding an adequate location for a childcare facility.
What can you do to help? Here is what the group needs from the community:
• Group participants who are interested in exploring solutions or who may have ideas. The next meeting is Tuesday, July 11th at 10:00 am. Contact me for details.
• Possible locations for a daycare. This could be an un- or under-utilized business space, a home, a church, etc.
• Local entrepreneurs who are interested in starting their own childcare business. The reality is that we need multiple solutions to this problem. There are resources available for individuals to start their own business.
• Businesses who are interested in being part of the solution who may have space, resources, supplies, etc. for childcare providers.
As a working mother of three, I know firsthand the challenges of childcare in our community. However, I’m optimistic that our community can find a solution. If you are interested in being involved with this effort, please contact me at MSU Extension in Broadwater County at 406-266-9242 or allison.kosto@montana.edu
