United Way of Central Minnesota Launches Childcare Website to Help Families

(KNSI) — The United Way of Central Minnesota launched a new website to help businesses and residents find childcare following a summit on the topic last week.

Over 60 people gathered to discuss the crisis they say is hurting families and the buisness community.

United Way of Central Minnesota Director of Financial Stability Alexis Lutgen explained to KNSI News around 5,300 kids in the St. Cloud area are waiting for space now, and the number is anticipated to increase. “Our region is actually growing at a much higher rate than the rest of the state. In comparison, we’re growing at 12%, whereas the rest of the state is growing at 7.8%. So, we were seeing this increase, and that’s why we’re seeing it as such a big problem for us when it comes to child care, and the need for it because there is such a higher demand for it.”

Other suggestions included adding child care to a benefits package, partnering with an outside program, having a program on-site at a workplace, or having some flexibility to think outside the box.

Lutgen hopes the new webpage gives companies some help. “It is pretty much a business toolkit for those employers that are looking to find a way to assist their employees in finding childcare, which obviously benefits them because then they have those employees to be doing the work. And that increases their productivity and their ability to be profitable and functional.”

Lutgen stated there is no one-size-fits-all solution because everybody’s family situation is different, and the ability to assist workers is different.

According to Lutgen, Minnesota has the fourth highest childcare cost in the country, driven by the cost of living, taxes, regulation, and supply and demand.

She said more meetings will be held, although dates have yet to be selected.

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