Tropical Storm Helene and the Impact on Child Care in WNC
Families in WNC struggled to find affordable, accessible, high quality child care before Tropical Storm Helene hit out region. Now more than ever, we need robust policy and public funding to meet this critical moment in the mountains.
Child care is an essential piece of our recovery and rebuilding efforts—first responders, business owners, working families all need it to keep our economy going. Child care programs need funds to continue to pay teachers and meet operating costs on the path to reopening and stabilizing. With a shortage of child care teachers already, we must prioritize preserving this existing workforce.
The WNC Early Childhood Coalition will continue to advocate for big, bold investments in 2025 to sustain and increase access to affordable, high-quality child care in our region and across the state.
Perspective: Our young children and their child care programs need Helene relief funding
(Marsha Basloe/EdNC, Oct 23, 2024)
Child care programs need funding to rebuild, repair, retain their teachers, and sustain their businesses. Entire communities are relying on them to recover.
READ MORE: Perspective: Our young children and their child care programs need Helene relief funding
Here are some models of recovery for early care and learning after Helene
(Liz Bell and Katie Dukes/EdNC, Oct 28, 2024)
Here are some of the models, strategies, and resources supporting the recovery of young children, families, and child care programs in Western North Carolina.
READ MORE: Models, resources for Hurricane Helene early childhood recovery
Chamber Foundation to cover October tuition costs for licensed early childhood centers
(Watauga Democrat/ Oct 3, 2024 Updated Oct 8, 2024)
The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board of Directors agreed to allocate $125,000 toward the cost of tuition payments for the month of October at licensed early childhood development centers throughout Watauga County.
These funds will be allocated to The Children’s Council of Watauga County and distributed to the licensed facilities and licensed in-home facilities.
READ MORE: Chamber Foundation to cover October tuition costs for licensed early childhood centers
Flipped-over cribs in flood waters at Quaker Generations Child Care, a Head Start program in Burke County. Photo Courtesy of Tina Kyes
‘The opportunity to do better’: EdNC hosts national conversation about early childhood policy
August 22, 2024
In July 2024, EdNC hosted the annual conference of the Governmental Research Association (GRA) in Asheville. The GRA consists of 28 member organizations in 17 states that conduct public policy, governmental, and civic research into issues facing municipalities, regions, and states.
At this year’s conference, researchers came together to talk about economic prosperity through the lenses of climate change, housing, workforce development, and early childhood care and education.
WNC Early Childhood Coalition Director Greg Borom held the honor of sitting on an amazing panel of local advocates to discuss effective statewide strategies in early childhood care and education.
Ereka Williams, Doug Howgate, Amieris Lavender, Greg Borom, and Katie Dukes at the 2024 GRA Conference. Mebane Rash/EdNC.
Rural childcare facilities at risk despite small federal grant boost
(Karen Zatkulak/WLOS, Wed, July 31st 2024 at 9:27 PM)
Childcare centers across the mountains are scrambling to stay afloat after a major loss in federal dollars.
READ MORE: Rural childcare facilities at risk despite small federal grant boost (wlos.com)
Concerns Over Childcare Funding
(Published: Jul. 8, 2024 at 6:49 PM EDT - Fox Carolina)
Greg Borom, Director of WNC Early Childhood Coalition, is featured in a story covered by Fox Carolina discussing the $67.5M in stop gap funding and the concerns that still remain.
WATCH HERE: https://www.foxcarolina.com/video/2024/07/08/concerns-over-childcare-funding/
NC lawmakers approve almost $68 million in child care subsidies, amid concerns that centers would close
(Author: Will Doran, WRAL)
The money is only a fraction of what North Carolina is losing for child care from the federal government, starting July 1, when Covid-era funds expire. But it should at least buy the legislature several months to work on a more permanent solution.
Photo Credit: WRAL
Legislature passes temporary child care funding aimed to last until budget agreement
(Author: Liz Bell, EdNC.org)
The state Senate concurred with a House bill Thursday that approves $67.5 million to extend compensation grant funding to child care providers. The bill is now sent to Gov. Roy Cooper for his signature.
READ MORE: NC House passes stopgap child care funding while budget waits - EducationNC (ednc.org)
Photo Credit: Liz Bell - EducationNC
Western NC child care facing severe cuts; Raleigh advances emergency funding
(Author: Joel Burgess, Citizen Times)
With 29% of North Carolina child care programs saying they would close with many in the west of the state eyeing deep cuts, legislators have advanced emergency funding before a June 30 fiscal cliff.
READ MORE: Western NC child care faces deep cut; Raleigh advances stopgap funding (citizen-times.com)
Photo Credit: Angela Wilhem (Citizen Times)
WNC ECC Director, Greg Borom was featured alongside coalition partners from the Buncombe Partnership for Children, Verner Center for Early Learning, YWCA and Christine W. Avery Learning Center, highlighting the breakdown of our child care system and the dire need for public investment now.
Watchdog photo by Starr Sariego
WNC ECC Engagement Specialist, Rachel Shelton raised attention on WLOS with coalition partners from Evolve Early Learning and Buncombe Partnership for Children about the looming child care closures that will follow the child care cliff, the impact it will have in WNC and across the state, and the imminent need for government investment.
Read more: Mountain childcare centers face closures as funding deadline looms (wlos.com)
Photo credit: WLOS Staff