Hardin County Conservation, in partnership with Hardin County Economic Development, and the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board, have contracted with First Children’s Finance to complete a child care market analysis, which will focus on ways to bring more child care to Hardin County.
Carrie Kube, director of the Iowa River Valley Early Childhood Area Board, tells RadioOnTheGo News that the demand remains high for child care slots in Hardin County.
“What we know for sure is that about 67% of households in Hardin County have both parents working outside the home. And according to some live childcare data, there’s approximately about 732 children in our area that need care. And that could be zero to five or that could be even up to age 10. But right now our current capacity is only 384 spaces. So that leaves us about. One in every two children needs a childcare space that we don’t have a home for. So we’re really trying to work and change that scope. We’re trying to find some new inventive ways of helping families find and use childcare in unique ways.”
As part of the process, three different surveys are being circulated around Hardin County, including for the parents.
“Ask our constituents what is the need for childcare, what are your barriers, what are you looking for in terms of an early learning center, believe it or not, how far are you willing to travel, how far do you travel now? So there will be a variety of questions that parents will be asked in a separate survey. There’s a survey that goes out to current childcare providers asking them what they’re seeing, asking for their opinion. And then equally important is the employer survey. So that will go out to a myriad and a multitude of employers across Hardin County asking them, what are the childcare challenges you’re seeing with your employees? Is there issues with attendance?”
For more information go to iowarivervalleyeca.com.
