Our area’s population continues to grow at a staggering rate, and with minimal growth in child care providers, we have become a child care desert. Our speakers at January’s forum showed statistics, uncovered the why, and provided ideas to address our childcare needs. We urge you to continue the conversation and take action on this critical topic.
Ways you can engage?
- Start talking more about childcare shortage at work. How many others are struggling?
- Reach out to others outside the workplace and offer solutions.
- Watch for legislation that addresses the child care shortage.
- For those who can provide space, invest, or otherwise want to impact child care in the tri-county region, please contact Karen Prow, NeighborImpact Child Care Resource & Referral, 541-323-6557, karenp@neighborimpact.org.
Want more information? Explore these additional resources:
- Center for American Progress article – Proposed Bill Would Help American Families Afford Child Care https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/early-childhood/reports/2018/09/13/457518/proposed-bill-help-american-families-afford-child-care/
- ChildCare Aware America – The US and the High Cost of Child Care: A Review of Prices and Proposed Solutions for a Broken System http://usa.childcareaware.org/advocacy-public-policy/resources/research/costofcare/
- Fast Company – Why Work Has Failed Us: Because It’s Making It Impossible to Start a Family https://www.fastcompany.com/90223475/american-childcare-is-an-expensive-nightmare-is-it-fixable
- Bend Chamber – Bend Chamber Survey Shows Child Care Cost and Availability Impacting Business https://bendchamber.org/community/bend-chamber-survey-shows-child-care-cost-and-availability-impacting-business/
- City of Bend – Ben Hemson, Business Advocate, 541-388-5529 or bhemson@bendoregon.gov. Resource for child care providers looking for assistance to expand their building or lease space or partner with a business to identify space for child care services.
- NeighborImpact – Karen Prow, Child Care Resource & Referral, 541-323-6557, karenp@neighborimpact.org. Contact Karen if you who can provide space, invest, or otherwise want to impact child care in tri-county region.
- TRACE’s Child Care Supply and Demand Child Care Fact Sheets by City (Bend, Prineville, Redmond, Sisters, Sunriver). https://www.dropbox.com/sh/p2zkt4mbnqw1bln/AABs51KWxD7tz2aOrQgv2vcEa?dl=0
City Club thanks our moderator, Katy Brooks (Bend Chamber); Presenters: Kara Tachikawa (Inspire Learning Centers), Ryan Combellick (Hydro Flask), Carolyn Eagan (City of Bend), forum presenting sponsor Hydro Flask for helping create this important conversation.
