Kids Count on Us, a statewide coalition of providers, parents, and teachers working for accessible and affordable child care across Minnesota, held the kickoff of its Rural Childcare Victory Tour in Grand Marais, MN Thursday, July 6. The two hour event included the debut of the documentary film Labor of Love, an honest look at daycare workers and providers that honors the commitment of the men and women who do this vital work while highlighting the immense challenges they face each day.
The meeting, intended to be a childcare conversation, was held in the building that houses Cook County Higher Education. More than 40 people attended.
The Conversation was co-sponsored by Cook County Childcare Solutions, an initiative of Cook County Public Health and Human Services (PHHS) that meets monthly with a goal of providing feedback to PHHS on all childcare related initiatives in the community.
After hearing from local officials, parents and business owners, the meeting included a panel of three legislators, Representative Roger Skraba (3A, R), Senator Grant Hauschild (3, DFL) and Senator Erin Murphy (64, DFL). Senator Liz Boldon (25, DFL) could not attend in person but her legislative aide was on hand.
The three legislators agree that Minnesota, particularly rural Minnesota, has a crisis of affordable and accessible childcare. In Cook County alone there are almost four kids that might need care for every space licensed to provide it. Lack of adequate child care is thought to be keeping people from moving to Cook County to take some of the positions employers have trouble filling.
Senator Hauschild summed it up with, “I understand how this crisis impacts the business community more after hearing you all. We need everyone to come together to solve this.”
Representative Skraba said, “If we can invest in childcare, we know we will be able to take care of everyone here.”
Also in attendance were Cook County Administrator James Joercke, HRA director Jason Hale and county commissioners Stacy Hawkins and Ann Sullivan.
Earlier this year, PHHS and the county’s Economic Development Agency (EDA) received grant funding to raise hourly pay for childcare workers by up to $5.79 per hour, raising average pay closer to what the state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) says is a statewide average of $19.29 per hour.
Pat Campanaro, a consultant with the Small Business Development Center of the EDA in Grand Marais commented on the difficulties, bureaucratic and financial, of starting a child care business. She reported that in the recent past, “I’ve watched five people attempt to open a childcare business and fail [to get open].”
Despite that, Nancy Deming, Childcare Coordinator/Licensor with PHHS reports progress, seeing an increase in people who are exploring becoming childcare providers.
Kids Count On Us is affiliated with ISAIAHmn.org which describes itself as “a vehicle for congregations, clergy, and people of faith to act collectively and powerfully towards racial and economic equity in the state of Minnesota.”
The Rural Childcare Victory Tour is moving on with four more sessions planned. It will be repeated in New Ulm, August 21; Ortonville, September 13; Bemidji, September 5,6, or 14 (schedule not yet finalized); and Mountain Iron, September 28.
More Kids Count On Us information may be found at https://isaiahmn.org or its Facebook page.
