When Child Care Becomes Part of a Career Plan

For many working parents, child care is not something they can treat as a separate concern from their job. Having a dependable place for their children to go can determine whether they can make it to work, take an additional shift, attend school or complete job training.

“Childcare is not a family issue; it’s an economic issue,” said Rachel Spector of McGovern Becker School. “If people don’t have childcare, they can’t work and they can’t go to school. They can’t better themselves.”

That connection between child care and employment is one reason Workforce Solutions Gulf Coast provides Child Care Scholarships to eligible families. The program helps families access child care while parents work, search for employment, attend school or participate in workforce training.

Creating Stability for Working Parents

For Tashara Wiser, an eligibility specialist with Workforce Solutions and a working parent, finding dependable child care was once one of the biggest challenges she faced.

“Before having access to child care, the biggest challenge that I had to face was trying to find someone to watch my children and being able to know I can go to work and be comfortable there and that they’re going to be in a safe place,” Wiser said.

That sense of stability can affect more than a parent’s ability to get through the workday. It can also give them room to think about what comes next.

Jennifer Starling, manager of Child Care Scholarships at Workforce Solutions, said stable child care can give parents greater flexibility to pursue opportunities.

“When a family has stable child care, it allows them to be able to advance their careers, allows them to take additional shifts, go to school,” Starling said.

For families who qualify, Child Care Scholarships can help make that stability possible. The program provides financial assistance for child care, helping parents address one of the practical challenges that can stand between them and employment or training.

Finding Care Families Can Trust

Affordability, however, is only part of the challenge. Parents also need access to providers they feel comfortable trusting with their children.

Jamille Rodriguez, director of Kids ‘R’ Kids Riverstone, said dependable child care means knowing that children are safe, learning and comfortable while their parents are away.

“Dependable child care for a working parent is somewhere that you can trust, somewhere that you can drop your kid off, and you know that they’re going to be safe and that they’re going to learn and ultimately feel comfortable,” Rodriguez said.

Spector said the need for accessible care is particularly noticeable in communities where child care options are limited.

“There really needs to be an increase of child care and more affordability,” Spector said. “It is a very expensive area. So, more funding for these parents would help here.”

Workforce Solutions helps bridge that gap by connecting eligible families with child care assistance and participating providers.

Removing a Barrier to Employment

The impact of that support can be seen in the number of children served. According to Starling, Workforce Solutions assists approximately 45,000 children each year, with about 33,000 children in care daily.

For parents, the goal is straightforward: having dependable care should not be the reason they have to turn down work, postpone training or put a career goal on hold.

“I honestly believe that Workforce Solutions in the Gulf Coast program is something that is very needed,” Wiser said. “This has helped a lot of parents, helped a lot of families.”

Learn more about how childcare assistance can improve the workforce.

Child care does not solve every challenge a working parent faces, but having reliable care can remove one important barrier. With that support in place, parents can focus on their jobs, education, and the next step in their careers.

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