TX Alliance Child Care Impact Report

BUILDING FUTURE TEXANS

DEAR YMCA FRIENDS

Even prior to 2020, the child care sector in Texas was straining from the effects of low pay, low reimbursement rates, high operating costs and high employee turnover. The ensuing pandemic only served to heighten the structural weaknesses, bringing the entire system to the brink of collapse.

Fortunately, Child Care Relief Funding from the Texas Workforce Commission threw a life preserver to providers across the state. With these new resources, YMCAs across Texas - collectively the largest child care provider in the state - were able to increase pay, improve program quality and enhance health and safety measures.

But there’s still much more work ahead. Tens of thousands of families remain on waiting lists. Shifting health and safety regulations have dramatically increased costs. And a historically tight labor market has driven pay rates higher still, with competition for workers at a premium - workers who are caring for our most precious possessions: our children.

Affordable and enriching child care is the hidden foundation of the Texas economy. Without it, parents’ ability to work outside of the home is dramatically limited. Preschoolers enter the classroom at an academic disadvantage, helping widen the opportunity gap. And without it, elementary students spend out-ofschool hours lacking structure, guidance and positive role models.

With your help, we can address these challenges and build future generations of Texans from a solid foundation. The following report gives you a look at the obstacles we’ve overcome...and the road ahead.

Working together, we can rebuild and reimagine our child care system so that it works better than ever before, yielding dividends to the Texas economy... and delivering prosperity to the people who drive it.

Chair, Texas State Alliance of YMCAs President & CEO, YMCA of Greater Houston

A TEXAS-SIZED CHALLENGE

The challenge of delivering child care has reached every corner of the state and beyond.

Abilene

El Paso

Austin

Dallas / Ft. Worth

Houston

San Antonio

OUR IMPACT IN TEXAS

1.2 million

Texans served through local YMCAs

700 campuses

Provide Y child care through 22 local Y Associations

$30+ million in YMCA Financial Assistance and Subsidies in 2021-2022

100+

Texas school districts served by YMCAs in more than 200 communities

SERVING TEXAS FAMILIES

Texas YMCAs serve nearly 25,000 children each month with values-based education and care. Children enjoy a safe, fun and enriching experience that helps them develop selfmanagement, relationship skills, decision-making, creativity, critical thinking and character.

Wrap-Around Services Include: Emergency

Child Care for Essential Workers

Support

• Virtual Learning

• Meals & Food Distribution

Youth Sports & Enrichment

• Vaccinations

• Storm & Disaster Relief

Youth Mentoring & Leadership Development

2019-20 & ‘22

Summer Day Camp & Overnight Camp

ENSURING CRITICAL ACCESS

When COVID-19 lockdowns began, YMCAs across Texas immediately began providing emergency child care for essential personnel.

As schools shifted to virtual learning, Ys provided virtual learning support. When schools reopened, Ys offered care at reduced capacity.

Child Care Relief Funding through the Texas Workforce Commission has provided invaluable resources to stablize YMCA services, provide family subsidies and restore program capacity:

• $17.2 million (2021)

• $107.2 million (2022)

FOR GOOD MEASURE

$9.39 Billion

Estimated annual cost to Texas economy in lost income and tax revenue due to child care breakdowns. Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

242+

Child Care deserts created during pandemic+

68%

Of low income Texas families live in areas without sufficient supply of subsidized care+

21%

Of Texas child care providers closed from March 2020-Sept. 2021+

TEXAS YMCAs: A SOUND INVESTMENT

TWC funding enabled YMCAs to stabilize and improve operations through the following investments:

Disbursed more than $15 million in Financial Assistance to support working family child care needs

Raised wages for more than 5,000 YMCA child care staff to improve recruitment and increase capacity

Enhanced STEAM curriculum in Y programs to meet future Texas workforce demand

Upgraded practices, equipment and facilities to ensure safety and health of children and staff

THE ROAD AHEAD

In the coming years, continued funding will be vital to ensure stability and growth of the Texas economy.

3 Texas children remaining on waiting lists for every one child served+

3.1 MILLION Texas workers at risk due to lack of affordable child care+

99.5% Of child care providers that received TWC stabilization funding remained open+

+Sources: Children at Risk, Child Care Aware of America, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Texas parents share their stories

“I would be lost without the YMCA and the care you guys give to my daughter. I’m doing my best as a single dad to keep working, and knowing she has a safe place to stay while I continue to work is a blessing from God. Thank you for what you all do every day, and I don’t know what I would do without your help.”

Midland Y Parent

“‘Thank you’ just isn’t enough for what the emergency YMCA child care has done for our family. As both me and my husband are in the medical field, the requirement of working from home and keeping my children at home was not an option. Not only has the emergency care allowed me and my husband to keep food on the table for our family by allowing us to continue to work, it has allowed us to continue our commitment to the healthcare of our community. We appreciate the YMCA staff who have remained on board, understanding the risks of continuing to watch my children, through the COVID-19 pandemic. YMCA, there are not enough words to truly express my gratitude toward your organization for what you have done for my children, family, and community. Thank you.”

- Ft. Worth Y Parent

“The AMA YMCA Afterschool program has provided a safe and healthy community for my children. As a single parent, it can be difficult doing everything on my own, but having the after school program as a beacon of support for my family is something that we will always be grateful for. Every day I look forward to the wonderful stories that my kids tell me during their time in the after school program.”

- Arlington Y Parent

“I love that there is an affordable summer day camp option with traditional outdoor camp activities. My daughter loves them all: canoeing, fishing, ropes course, and zipline.”

– Austin Y Parent

The Texas State Alliance of YMCAs represents the interests and concerns of 22 independent Ys across Texas to build capacity and leadership in the areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. The Alliance functions to advocate on behalf of local Ys to promote our three areas of focus while fostering statewide communication and collaboration in over 200 urban, suburban and rural communities. Collectively, we serve more than 1.2 million Texans; so that together we can inspire change by addressing local issues and strengthening communities. Through strategic partnerships and collaborations with school districts, higher education institutions, hospitals, local and state government; we work diligently to achieve our mission of building healthy spirit, mind and body.