Affordable Childcare Now presentation — original pdf

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A broad coalition convened by United Way for Greater Austin that comprises of Travis County civic organizations, businesses, and community members who support equitable access to affordable, quality childcare for all. August 2024 Timeline ECC Actions April 2023 - Children’s Funding Project Overview January 10, 2024 – Cost model of child care in Austin – Travis County March 20, 2024 – Children’s Funding Project Presentation April 16, Resolution to endorse Children’s Funding Project Workgroup Recommendations May 14th Travis County Commissioners Approve Travis County CARES Resolution June 25 Travis County Commissioners Briefing, Discussion and Vote August 13 Public Hearing and Commissioners Court Vote Travis County CARES Resolution Creating Access for Resilient Families Overview of Strategic Investments in Childcare Benefits of Quality Childcare The Case for Significant Investments in Childcare ➔ Workforce ➔ Affordability ➔ Accessibility ➔ School Readiness ➔ Ongoing School Success ➔ Market Failure ➔ Equity ➔ Social Returns “It’s time to start treating childcare as essential infrastructure — just as worthy of funding as roads and fiber optic cables.” Melinda Gates, 2021 Background: ➔ Success By 6 ATX ➔ Children’s Funding Project (CFP) ➔ Learn All the Time (LATT) Network 9 Goals & Guiding Principles ➔ Increase Access ➔ Increase Access ➔ Improve Affordability ➔ Improve Affordability ➔ Invest in Quality ➔ Invest in Quality ➔ Grow the Workforce ➔ Grow the Workforce ➔ Strengthen the System ➔ Strengthen the System Adapted from Travis County Court Briefing ➔ Ground Solutions in Data ➔ Ground Solutions in Data ➔ Seek Equity ➔ Seek Equity ➔ Leverage Existing Assets ➔ Leverage Existing Assets ➔ Ensure Accountability and ➔ Ensure Accountability and Efficiency Efficiency Recommended Strategies for Investment Adapted from Travis County Court Briefing ➔ Expand Slots Early Childhood Afterschool/Summer ➔ Expand care in early ◆ ◆ morning, evening and weekend hours ➔ Build quality and capacity Early Childhood Afterschool/Summer ➔ Create a Business- ◆ ◆ Government Alliance Strategy 1: Expanded Slots Early Childhood ➔ Expand access with funding to create additional capacity through contracts Guaranteed capacity ◆ ➔ Focus on full-day, year-round care (birth through age 3 years) ➔ Supplement subsidy funding for infants and toddlers to match cost of quality Adapted from Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 Strategy 1: Expanded Slots Afterschool / Summer ➔ Expand access with funding to create additional capacity through contracts for new sites or additional slots at existing sites for youth in least resourced areas of Travis County ➔ Focus on quality afterschool and summer programming Learn All The Time Network | 2024 Strategy 2: Expand care for early mornings, evenings, and weekends Austin/Travis County’s supply of care in these hours serves only 10% of need. This care would benefit children of all age groups. Adapted from Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 Strategy 3: Build Quality & Capacity Coordination & Data Systems Early childhood and after school / summer programs Childcare Workforce Recruitment and retention, professional pathways Dedicated Funding Support for in-home childcare programs Adapted from Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 Coalition Meeting | June 20, 2024 Strategy 4: Create a Business- Government Alliance Incentivize businesses to contribute to the cost of child care for employees by matching public funds to employer contributions, up to 50% tuition cost. Adapted from Children’s Funding Project Work Group | 2024 Administration & Governance Travis County Commissioners Court Oversight body empowered with accountability and quality assurance tools. Community Advisory Board Composed of parents, providers and other local experts. Travis County Health & Human Services Administering body to distribute funds to community organizations to implement programs. Regular independent evaluations of the expenditures Short & Long-Term Economic Impact $308m NEW Revenue in Travis County, Annually 6287 NEW Employees in the Workforce 45,000 Families impacted over 12 years ➔ Stimulating the childcare industry has strong positive economic implications as increased revenue ripples through the economy with greater workforce participation, wages, and increased spending. ➔ Increased business productivity and reduced turnover and absenteeism caused by lack of affordable childcare. ➔ Increased funding for childcare across the continuum allows more families to enter the labor force, increase hours at work, or to complete workforce development programs to increase their skills and wages. Travis County HHS, Children's Funding Project, United Way of Greater Austin, Andy Roddick Foundation Every $1 invested in quality child care yields about a $9 return on investment. Date (Tentative) Agenda Item Content or Other Milestone Commissioners Court Voting Session; Order election Timeline August 13, 2024 (Tuesday) November 5, 2024 (Tuesday) November 12, 2024 (Tuesday) Early Voting Begins October 21, 2024 Election Day 2024 Commissioners Court Voting Session; Canvassing of Election Results Coalition Meeting | June 20, 2024 Thank You!