Lack of access to and affordability for childcare has caused over 4,000 workers in the greater Yakima region to drop out of the workforce. This volatility in the labor market is estimated to cost area businesses $92 million annually.
Childcare is a family stabilizer and indirect economic driver/multiplier. It enables labor force participation, especially among younger parents, AND directly employs hundreds of thousands of providers and early childhood educators. One childcare worker in Washington means 10+ toddler parents can go to work.
If businesses want to recruit new talent and grow their talent pipeline, childcare is a critical human resources concern.
Increasing access to childcare for working families depends on both the supply of providers and increased resources for families. YCDA delivered a Childcare Business Accelerator over the past five months, delivering the following impacts in Yakima County (Metrics as of 7/22/24):
- Childcare Capacity: 50 new spaces for children have been or are in the process of being opened
- Childcare Jobs: 10 jobs retained and or created
- Conferences: 3 conferences provided access to business resources and networking opportunities
- Credits Issued: Participants received 424 Merit STARS continuing education credits
- DEI: 80% of the participants are either BIPOC, bilingual, or prefer instruction in Spanish
- Participants: 93 business owners and operators participated from 60 childcare businesses
- Workshops: 81 workshops focused on Digital, Financial, and Marketing skills.
The Childcare Accelerator Program was more than just a single event; it’s a vital part of YCDA’s ongoing efforts to support the local business community. YCDA developed a series of technical assistance workshops explicitly tailored for childcare providers and offered them in English and Spanish. These workshops cover essential business management topics, including digital education, financial education, and digital marketing strategies. All workshops are designed for both in-home and childcare centers.
Recognizing the importance of professional development and accreditation, YCDA partnered with the Educational Service District (ESD) 105 to ensure participants received STARS Merit hours for their participation. This collaboration not only enhanced the value of the program but also provided childcare providers with the credentials they need to excel in their field.
YCDA partnered with South Central Workforce, and the Yakima Valley Community Foundation to host the three in-person conferences that had a combined 120+ participants. The end goal of all this effort? To deliver the impacts detailed above. Equipping childcare providers with essential business insights and empowering them to expand their operations grows the labor force and positively impacts our communities’ families and businesses.
This project, the “Childcare Accelerator Program,” is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award (Award #: 90XP0589) totaling $140,000 with 100 percent funded by ACF/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS or the U.S. Government. Please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements for more information.