Sherry Searles, Launchpad, updated us on the state of Child Care in Kosciusko County.
Presiding – Chris Plack
Invocation – Tim Frame
Attendance – 80
Guests – Eden, Greg Burger
Greeters – Jeff Servies, Dave Morgan
Announcements –
Need two bell ringers for Salvation Army @ South Doors of Wal Mart, December 3.
Club dues will be sent January 1, 2023
Happy Birthday to Ann Sweet
Birthdays – Ann Sweet
Congratulations to our new members, Susan Armacost, Randee Robson & Jim Brennan
Membership – Susan Armacost, Randee Robson, Jim Brennan were all inducted as members
50 – 50 – $41 to Joe Sutton
Sergeants – Members were encouraged to donate “Thanksgiving” dollars for personal celebrations.
Program – Sherry Searles, Launchpad, updated us on the state of Child Care in Kosciusko County.
Currently, in Kosciusko County, there is a shortage of 1,500 childcare spots.
A single parent in Kosciusko County spends 46% of his/her income on quality childcare.
Low and moderate income families cannot afford the cost of care, which can be $10,000 or more per year for one child.
Just over half of Kosciusko County’s childcare spots are considered high quality according to Indiana’s rating system, called Paths to Quality.
Early childhood education is one of the lowest paying professions. While regulations call for more education for teachers, wages are low and benefits are negligible.
The current model of childcare is flawed. If programs want to pay their teachers a living wage, they must raise their childcare rates.
When businesses invest in programs:
Quality goes up
Care becomes affordable
Teachers receive a living wage/benefits
Employees are able to work and productivity goes up