'We are asking you to help us raise your kids. There's nothing more important than that.' — Pat Schumacher, Shu's Crew Daycare<br>
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The U.S. child care industry is at the point of market failure, a representative of Kansas' Child Care Aware program told a group of Hays Chamber members Friday.
Child care costs more to provide than families can afford to pay, said Jennifer Burgardt, community outreach and engagement coordinator at Child Care Aware of Kansas.
Federal subsidies for child care providers have been available since the onset of the pandemic, but Burgardt said that money will eventually run out. A more sustainable model is needed, she said.
"For decades, providers have just been getting by," she said, "providing what parents can afford. However, with rising costs, it's just getting harder and harder. I think that has been exposed by the events of the last couple of years."
Families can also apply for subsidies through the Kansas Department of Children and Families, and Burgardt encouraged them to do so. The income ceiling for benefits has been raised.
Pat Schumacher, owner of Shu's Crew Daycare in Hays, said she cares about the children, but her job is becoming more difficult.
"We're going to have to rely on our local communities to help us with [subsidies]," she said. "Every time I write out that contract, I think to myself I have to raise my rates to meet my finances, but how do I that without pricing that for my families to the point they can no longer afford me."
Schumacher said she is concerned the federal grants will end.
"During COVID, we didn't get recognized, but we are essential workers too," she said. "Without us, the other essential workers could not go to work, could not provide the services needed at that time. ...
"We need to elevate the daycare providers and acknowledge they are more than glorified babysitters. It is time. Otherwise you are going to lose more and more of us."
A child care survey conducted by the Chamber in November 2021 found 151 of the 800 respondents said they would go back to work in some form if they had quality, affordable child care.
Chamber President Sarah Wasinger said that could have a significant effect on local employers who are trying to hire in a county with a 1.7 percent unemployment rate as of May.
Ellis County has one open child-care spot for every 10 children needing care. Ellis County is better off than many counties in northwest Kansas, which have no openings for infants or toddlers.
The lack of quality, affordable child care is costing Ellis County more than $11 million annually, according to Child Care Aware.
"Just like pre-K-12 education and higher education, it's becoming a necessity," Burgardt said. "It's becoming a need. It's really hard as a family just to have a one-person income family."
Mason Ruder, whose wife runs Ruders Rugrats Daycare, asked Burgardt if the state has considered expanding birth to kindergarten as a public education system.
"It's not just watching your kids while you are at work," he said. "You are watching the kids while they are there, growing up and teaching them fundamentals of what they need to get into school, but not getting any of the benefits of providing that education."
Jennifer Hecker, an audience member, said a state college education costs more than child care for a child from birth to age 5.
"What's so upside down about that is that it's the most expensive when parents are at the very bottom of their careers and the bottom of their earning potential," she said. "There's no funding available. There's no support.
"When [the children] get to college, the parents are at their highest earning potential and they are throwing scholarships at kids. ... "
Ruder said professors earn a good salary and have benefits. He said his wife can't purchase health insurance through her business or provide herself with retirement or give herself a raise.
Ruder said providers are at the breaking point and Shumacher agreed.
"I struggle. I provide their food. I provide their hygiene. I try to teach them life skills along the way, and I try to do meaningful activities," Schumacher said. "Who would do that for less than $3 an hour? I ask you. And yet have little respect for it. That's why you're losing providers.
"It's not that we don't care," she said. "It's that we can no longer do it under these circumstances. If you want child care, you're going to have support us or you're not going to have a workforce. ...
The Ellis County Child Care Task Force has conducted a series of meetings trying to encourage people to become child care providers.
Child Care Aware provides a myriad of services to both those wishing to become child care providers and existing providers. More information can be found at https://ks.childcareaware.org/
The task force is conducting a survey of local businesses about their employees' child care needs. It is also exploring a pay-to-play model in which businesses would pay to hold open child care spots for employees.
Businesses that are interested in the pay-to-play model should contact Wasinger at the Chamber at 785-628-8201.