JenniferCEOGrant
The Early Learning Coalition of Seminole
Child’s Play Closing the Equity Gap through the Provision of Quality and Affordable Childcare
Luis Nieves Ruiz, FAICP Director of Economic Development East Central Florida Regional Planning Council
Erin ThePresidentSmeltzerandCEOChildren’sForum
Skills of a Stellar Employee Impulse Control Working Memory Emotional Control/Empathy Attention Planning/Prioritization Flexibility Task Initiation Organization Time Management Goal Achievement Metacognition
Skills of a Stellar Employee Impulse Control Working Memory Emotional Control/Empathy Attention Planning/Prioritization Flexibility MonthsMonths6-1212-24
Skills of a Stellar Employee Task Initiation Organization Time Management Goal Achievement Metacognition ElementaryPreschool
Did You Know? Babies are born with 100 billion neurons. Brain development is a pruning process In the first 2 years of life babies form 1 millions new synaptic connections 1 million per second. Experiences determine what will stay and what will go.
How Does Poverty Impact Achievement?
Young children who experience poverty in the first years of life are approximately 30 percent less likely to complete high school than children who don’t experience poverty until later in life.
Early education has been proven as an intervention to stop this cycle.
Family income is now considered as nearly as strong a predictor of a child’s academic success as parental education level.
The strain poverty creates on families negatively impacts a young child’s ability to learn.
Over time, greater exposure to poverty in childhood – either cyclical or chronic – makes it more likely that a child will have a hard time escaping poverty in adulthood, feeding an intergenerational cycle of poverty
Conclusions: Early critical.experienceseducationalare You should care about that if you want a stellar workforce in your community.
So, what about your currentcommunity’sworkforce?
How Can You Support Your Workforce?Community’s Understand Access and Quality Limitations Prioritize investment
What to Walk Away With? Early education matters! You can get involved! You could be the solution! Prevent Lester development.
Early Learning Coalition of Seminole 1 of 30 in Florida Created through legislation Voluntary Prekindergarten Program (VPK) School Readiness Subsidized Child Care Family Supports Developmental Screenings Early Care and Education Provider Contracts Provider Training and Technical Assistance
Seminole County SevenAltamonteMunicipalitiesSprings, Casselberry, Lake Mary, Longwood, Oviedo, Sanford, Winter Springs
Seminole County 477,455 Population Estimate 2021 $70,297 Median Household Income 43.6% Work outside county of residence 10.4% Under Age 18 in Poverty
ALICE Asset-Limited,PopulationIncome Constrained, Employed Earn more than the poverty level but less than the basic cost of living 31% of Seminole Families with Children Below Threshold Child Care and Education is one of the six essential areas of a household budget Cost of Child Care vs. College
Market Failure Current system relies on private funding for most children 13% of income - one child under 5 years Industry margins are very low Labor provided by women and disproportionately women of color Low wages lead to high turnover Liquidity Constraints
COVID-19 Impact on Early Learning in Seminole County 24 Early Care and Education Providers Closed or Sold Child Care Workers were not identified as Essential Workers 45% did not have enough enrollment to remain open more than 6 months (April 2021) 90% using personal credit cards, additional deb or personal savings to cover operational costs 85% reported increased difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified staff
$15 Minimum Impact Fiscal Cliff Pandemic accelerated impact Labor entry expense of $150 Benefits are uncommon
Impact on Florida’s Economy Labor force participation decreases Parents with children 5 and under down 9.7% (Florida, March – April 2020) November 2020 – mothers were 2.2% more likely than the prior year to not work 2021 – family and child care responsibilities most frequent reason Mothers labor force participation decreased more than fathers (11.2% vs. 8.5%) Families also decreased hours or took paid/unpaid leave reducing productivity Impact was most pronounced among ages 25-39, females, high school education and incomes below $50,000 per year