BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Families in Brown County will soon have more options for child care, thanks to a federal grant of $450,000.
Brown County United Way secured the money to improve child care options and help lower cost for struggling families.
“Access to child care has certainly been an issue that our community has been working on and towards for years,” President and CEO of Brown County United Way Robyn Davis said.
Davis said the lack of child care access has been brought to the forefront since the pandemic. Not only does the problem hurt families, but also businesses.
“We have heard from employers, ‘We’re concerned about our work force’ and ‘How do we maintain our work force if they can’t find child care for their children?'” Davis said.
In Brown County alone, nearly 39,000 households are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — or “ALICE” — meaning cash is tight for them. Equitable child care is especially an issue for culturally diverse families.
The grant money will expand family-based child care centers, giving folks more options that are cost efficient.
“This is what parents want and we really have a shortage of regulated family child cares in brown county,” Families and Childcare Resources of Northeast Wisconsin (FCRNEW) Executive Director Paula Breese said.
With this grant, it gives FCRNEW the chance to work with and help regulate family-based child care providers.
The goal is to help them get licensed, take care of paperwork, help with investments, record keeping, taxes and tie other loose ends.
“This money will help our staff really work with them so that they can get all those practices set up and be successful,” Breese said.
Some Brown County ALICE families are also eligible to apply for up to 12 weeks of childcare scholarships through this grant, essentially slashing the cost in half.
Scholarships will be paid directly to family-based providers. They’ll get up to $200 per child, per week.
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