Back Up_Agenda Item 5_Joint Inclusion Committee Affordable Childcare Now July 2024 — original pdf

Backup

Joint Inclusion Committee – July 2024 Affordable Childcare Now is 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. 3 Benefits of Quality Childcare 7 The Case for Significant Investments in Childcare ➔ Workforce ➔ Affordability ➔ Accessibility ➔ School Readiness ➔ Ongoing School Success ➔ Equity ➔ Long Term 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 8 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 11 Recommended Strategies for Investment ➔ 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 12 Strategy 1: Expanded Slots Early Childhood ➔ Expand access with funding to create additional capacity through contracts Guaranteed capacity Pay for the true cost of quality care ➔ 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 13 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 Pay for the true cost of quality care ➔ Focus on quality afterschool and ◆ summer programming Learn All The Time Network | 2024 14 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 15 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 16 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 17 ESTIMATED CHILDREN WITH INCREASED ACCESS Strategy Children Birth Through Three Scholarship/Subsidies Gap Funding Afterschool/Summer Programming Expanded Hour Care 1407 Business-Government Alliance 1143 1878 1476 3896 9,800 CHILD CARE PROGRAMS Strategy Build Quality and Capacity – Early Childhood Build Quality and Capacity – Afterschool/Summer 300 325 625 18 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 19 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. Coalition Meeting | June 20, 2024 20 Timeline Date (Tentative) Agenda Item Content or Other Milestone August 13, 2024 (Tuesday) Commissioners Court Voting Session; Order election Coalition Meeting | June 20, 2024 21 Advocacy Tools @affordablechildcarenow One Pager 23 Events & Meetings Please submit information about upcoming events or meetings where there may be opportunities to share information and education about the Affordable Childcare Now Coalition in Travis County. Coalition Meeting | June 20, 2024 25 Thank You!