A strategic plan aimed at addressing critical challenges facing child care providers, families, children and employers in Alabama was revealed in a news release by a collaborative partnership comprising the Alabama Partnership for Children, the Alabama School Readiness Alliance, and VOICES for Alabama’s Children.

Rhonda Mann, Executive Director for VOICES for Alabama’s Children, highlighted the pressing need for reliable child care, stating, "The gap in child care coverage for children under age 6 is at 40%, which is higher than the national average. The translation is that when parents don’t have access to reliable, quality child care they can’t work. When employees can’t work, employers, businesses and the economy suffer the negative impact."

The unveiled Alabama Child Care Roadmap underscores the severity of the issue, noting that parents missed an average of 46 hours of work in the first six months of last year due to child care problems, including a lack of reliable options.

"Child care is a business market reality and must be transformed in Alabama to meet the varying needs of all it serves – children, families, providers and businesses," said Senior Advisor for Alabama Partnership for Children Gail Piggott in the release. "While the changes will take time, this is a pivotal opportunity for the state to respond to the child care needs of working families that can also have a transformational impact on the workforce participation rate and ultimately the state’s economy."

Bob Powers, Board President for Alabama School Readiness Alliance, stressed the importance of quality child care, noting, "The first five years of a child’s life are crucial for brain development. Investments in high-quality child care and early education are essential for improved outcomes in education and workforce development."

The Roadmap, informed by feedback from 13 listening sessions with child care providers and parents, as well as surveys and discussions with state agencies and advocates, outlines recommendations across six core areas. These include the child care business model, workforce, affordability and accessibility, high-quality child development, partnerships with employers and the effectiveness of investments.

Major support for the partnership was provided by the Alliance for Early Success, with additional funding from organizations including the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation, the Daniel Foundation, The Mike & Gillian Goodrich Foundation, and the Women’s Foundation of Alabama.

A diverse group of 32 high-level leaders formed the Alabama Child Care Workgroup, which conducted five work sessions from March through June last year to identify long- and short-term recommendations in each core area.

To access the Alabama Child Care Roadmap and learn more about the research and recommendations, visit alavoices.org.