230 likes | 238 Views
Learn how Iowa Women's Foundation is addressing economic struggles faced by women and girls in Iowa through research and community conversations, focusing on child care as a key barrier. Discover the data on child care availability and understand the importance of affordable, quality child care as a workforce and community issue. Join the Building Community Child Care Solutions Collaborative to increase awareness, provide resources, and implement viable solutions.
E N D
2019 SHE MATTERS: Building Community Child Care Solutions Improving the lives of Iowa’s women and girls
Did You Know • 70% of Iowa’s female headed households are struggling economically. • 40% are living in poverty • 30% do not earn enough to support their basic living expenses
UNACCEPTABLE • and • WHY?
Research • SHE Matters: We Listen and Iowa Wins state tour
What We Learned From Research And Community Conversations • Six barriers to economic success for Iowa’s women and girls • Employment • Childcare • Housing • Education • Training • Transportation • Mentors
What We Learned From Research And Community Conversations
What We Learned From Research And Community Conversations • Nine of the 18 communities we visited identified access to affordable, quality child care as their number one priority. • Because half of the communities self-identified this barrier, the IWF is focusing its energy and resources on addressing this issue.
What We Learned From Research And Community Conversations Iowa Child Care Data: • 75% of Iowa households with children under the age of 6 have all parents working outside the home • 529,076 children ages 0-12 in the state of Iowa • 167,399 child care spaces available • Shortfall of 361,677 spaces • On average 1 in 2 children go without access to affordable quality child care • Iowa has lost 40% of its child care businesses over the past five years.
What We Learned From Research And Community Conversations Allamakee County Child Care Data: • 82% of Allamakee County households with children under the age of 6 have all parents working outside the home • 2,296 children ages 0-12 in Allamakee County • 516 child care spaces available • Shortfall of 1,780 spaces • 4.4 children need care for every one slot available • Allamakee County has lost 50% of its child care businesses over the past five years.
What We Learned From Research And Community Conversations • The Midwest is the only US region where job openings outnumber job seekers • Today on Indeed, there are 36,612 open jobs in Iowa and 366 in Allamakee Co.
What We Learned From Research And Community Conversations • According to the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation, “we are in the midst of a child care crisis, and the productivity and strength of today’s workforce is threatened, as well as the quality and potential of tomorrow’s”. • In April of 2018, the Wall Street Journal, shared “Iowa’s Employment Problem: Too many Jobs, Not Enough People.”
What We Learned From Research And Community Conversations • As one HR executive said to me recently - Private business is in a war for talent • Iowa has an affordable quality child care crisis. This crisis is no longer just a family issue, it is a work force issue, a business issue and a community issue.
Building Community Child Care Solution Collaborative
Building Community Child Care Solutions Collaborative Goals: Increase the availability of quality affordable child care in communities across the state. Provide community stakeholders with connections and resources they need to create and implement child care solutions. Raise awareness among businesses, community leaders, policymakers, and organizations of the communities’ child care needs and solutions
Building Community Child Care Solutions Collaborative Community Collaborations Awareness Grantmaking
Building Community Child Care Solutions Collaborative Community Collaborations Solutions Tour IWF has returned or visited 22 communities with a tool kit of solutions. We have worked with over 500 stakeholders to discuss, strategize and implement viable and doable solutions to increase the availability of quality affordable child care.
Building Community Child Care Solutions Collaborative
Building Community Child Care Solutions Collaborative Awareness IWF is using our strategic research and collective voice to build a statewide network to affect policy and create systemic change for women and families as it relates to child care availability, accessibility, and affordability. Policy Brief Legislative Breakfast Governor
Building Community Child Care Solutions • Collaborative Grantmaking Core Grantmaking IWF has awarded more than $860,000 to over 200 projects reaching women and girls in every county in Iowa. Over the years, 40% of our grantmaking has been awarded in the Des Moines area and 2% of financial support has come from Des Moines. This year, we will award $100,000 to programs that focus on one of the six barriers: employment, child care, transportation, education, housing, and mentors
Building Community Child Care Solutions Collaborative Grantmaking The Child Care Collaborative (CCC) Fund Public Private Partnership Funds support projects that work to increase the availability of child care. Fort Dodge, Storm Lake and Davis County $40,000 will be awarded this year.
Building Community Child Care Solutions • Collaborative Community Call to Action • Join the Building Child Care Solutions Collaborative • Host a community session • Work together to implement identified solutions • Share best practices and successes
Building Community Child Care Solutions • Collaborative Stronger Together!
Thank You!! Improving the lives of Iowa’s women and girls