Press Release: New Survey Measures the Impact of Child Care Counts Funding on Milwaukee Providers
The Milwaukee Succeeds-led Early Childhood Education (ECE) Coalition recently completed a citywide survey of child care providers in order to determine what impact Child Care Counts funding has had on the industry. The new data, which was released in a report titled “Making Every Dollar Count,” demonstrates the critical need for such funding, while also highlighting the concerns that still remain for providers.
Beginning in March of 2020, child care providers in Wisconsin were eligible to receive federal COVID-19 relief dollars via the state’s Child Care Counts program. The funding, which will continue into 2023, was intended to help providers remain open, keep staff employed, and provide quality care to children. As of March 2022, more than $62 million has been awarded to over 1,300 providers in Milwaukee.
This funding represents a significant public investment into the ECE sector, which faced immense strain during the pandemic and has been struggling with retention and recruitment challenges for years. In order to accurately assess what impact this funding had, the Milwaukee ECE Coalition – comprised of diverse leaders and providers from across the city – electronically surveyed all child care providers in Milwaukee. A total of 507 providers responded, representing 44% of all providers in the city.
“As a Coalition, we had the opportunity to advocate for and inform the Child Care Counts program,” said Daria Hall, ECE director for Milwaukee Succeeds. “Now, thanks to this survey, we have vital information on how those dollars are being used. This data will guide our efforts toward continuous improvement, while informing advocacy for much needed, much deserved investment into the ECE sector.”