Barton County’s Commitment to Child Care
Though the child care coalition of Barton County was only started in 2021, it has already proven itself to be a thriving example of a community who deeply cares about its children and families.
Ground broke on a new community and child care center just last year, but there is a great deal more support needed to make this new venture, as well as the overall health of the community, successful. Coalition leaders, families, and providers have spoken out about the close ties between the economic development of Barton County and its child care, as well as the struggles that overworked and underpaid providers and overwhelmed families face.
Barton County is working overtime to build community support for its child care, and hopes to rewrite their narrative. Community members like Sarah, Jillian, and Kelsie agree that in order to rewrite this story, there are certain issues unique to their county that must be addressed. The quality of care given by child care providers and coordination between agencies are among the most pressing needs that they have identified.
The Intersection of Economic Development and Child Care
Sarah, a coalition leader in Barton who is also the county’s President of Economic Development, shared that finding quality providers is a dire challenge in her community. While there are many providers who strive to provide high-quality care for children in their communities, many of them feel that there are just simply not enough providers to cover the needs of all of the children. Sarah believes that low wages are one piece of the puzzle that is preventing more qualified people from entering the field. “Providers make, on average, just $8.26 an hour in Barton [County],” she revealed. Well below a living wage, this is simply not enough to entice new providers into committing to a career in child care.
Kelsie (a 9-year veteran child care provider) called this an absolute crisis. Additionally, these community members have identified licensing and regulations as a challenge that also impacts those navigating the childcare system. Challenges in coordination between agencies that serve families and providers have caused additional stress, and as Jillian (a parent who has been navigating the child care system in Barton County) shared, “When you’re a young [parent], you’re scared,” and having a more streamlined and easily navigable process would be beneficial. Kelsie agreed, stating that the process of becoming a provider is so complex and difficult that many people are deterred from even starting. Ultimately, Sarah believes, a lack of available, quality child care, as well as a complex navigation process, results in the impediment of economic development in Barton County.
Voices from the Community: The Need for Collaboration and Support
While there is no singular solution that would easily fix Barton County’s child care system, Kelsie believes that one place to begin would be with more intentional collaboration between agencies like DCF, KDHE, the fire marshal, and others who are integral to the operations of child care in Kansas.
Coordination between these agencies and assistance for parents and providers in navigating licensing and regulations would relieve some of the stress placed on those who are most directly impacted by the child care system. Jillian concurred, stating that child care policymakers need to hear the struggles of parents and providers, and take into account their experiences when building the system that they will ultimately bear the brunt of navigating.
Above all, however, funding remains a necessary step to finding a solution for the child care crisis in Barton County. Sarah and Kelsie both divulged that, in order to create a sustainable child care system, there must be funding for the adequate compensation of well-educated, properly-trained, and high-quality providers.
Rewriting Barton County’s Story
As Barton County looks to the future, it recognizes that the impact of all of their hard work is impending. As Sarah, Jillian, and Kelsie work to rewrite their community’s story, they each stress that there must be support coming in from all sides.
Sarah stated, “We need as many voices as we can… Community has to be the voice in rural America.” As this community continues to uplift those who navigate child care within its boundaries, they are cognizant of the fact that creating the availability of high quality child care immediately is necessary.
Kelsie strongly believes that high quality child care now creates a stronger community in the future, and the members of Barton County are intent upon seeing that future realized.
