SPONSORED: In Anchorage, the number of licensed child care providers is at its lowest in more than 20 years. Community leaders like entrepreneur Jasmin Smith are advocating to bridge the gap alongside organizations like thread.
Entrepreneur Jasmin Smith knows how challenging life can be for parents who are juggling work and raising children in Alaska, where a child care shortage has become a crisis for many families and communities.
Smith is one of Alaska’s business leaders focused on creating family-friendly workplaces to support their teams. Alaska faces an unprecedented shortage of child care providers and experts say that local families, businesses and the overall health of Alaska’s economy is at risk.How to create a family friendly workplace: ‘That one resource made everybody happy’
In Anchorage, licensed child care programs have dropped to under 200 providers, the city’s lowest number in more than 20 years, said thread CEO Stephanie Berglund. Some rural communities have been hit even harder, like Valdez and Gustavus, which have lost their only full-time child care programs. Federal ARPA and CRRSA funding sunset in September, which could create an even greater shortage.“It really impacts families’ ability to live, earn, grow and stay in Alaska,” Berglund said.
“This is an invitation to business leaders, policymakers and child care advocates to join us at the summit,” Berglund said. “Learn about the latest economic impact data, bright spots in child care investments and hear how businesses can be part of the movement.” The Alaska Chamber’s survey found that both large and small businesses were unable to find child care for their employees, said Alaska Chamber CEO Kati Capozzi. Many are taking action on their own.The Alaska Chamber voted to adopt a policy position in support of access to affordable child care. This position was sponsored by thread, an Alaska Chamber member, and had a great deal of support from others., which has met twice monthly since July.
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