Five ways state and local chambers can support working families by supporting female providers of color¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The report recommends five strategies for state and local chambers of commerce, derived from its interviews: share resources and information about "funding opportunities, health insurance, and COVID-19-related health and safety resources"; strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives including leadership and professional development for female providers of color; offer networking and marketing opportunities; list child care resource and referral information on chamber websites to connect supply with demand; and communicate child care needs to state and local representatives through advocacy. Chambers are positioned as connectors between providers, employers, and policymakers.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Chambers should begin by seeking input from local female providers of color about challenges, needed supports, and offered programs; employers collect employee child care needs and preferences.

Constraints¶

• The strategies were uncovered through interviews during the COVID-19 crisis and are addressed to chambers; the report notes providers often cannot afford chamber membership, suggesting discounts or sponsorships.

Target Learners¶

• Young children in child care programs
• Child care providers, particularly women of color

Target Learning Goals¶

• Access to high-quality early care and learning environments
• Provider professional development and business capacity

Claims¶

Related Strategies¶

• Use local resources to serve children birth through age 3 to stabilize community providers as 4-year-olds move into TK
• Support coordinated enrollment across the mixed delivery system to ensure family choice and provider stability

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Carrie Gillispie, Caitlin Codella, Aaron Merchen, Joseph Davis, Ashley Cappo. (2021). Equity in Child Care Is Everyone's Business. The Education Trust & U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED617545