Cooperatives can lift caregiver wages, increase the quality of care and curb workforce shortages in rural communities. [photo courtesy NACo]The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Interagency Working Group on Cooperative Development hosted a webinar in 2023 on how the cooperative model is a tool to address the childcare crisis while supporting parents, employers, early childhood educators and home-based providers. Cooperatives can lift caregiver wages, increase the quality of care and curb workforce shortages in rural communities.
The early care and education (ECE) field struggles with high rates of turnover and difficulty recruiting new workers because of low wages and poor benefits. Apprenticeships are one strategy to help the ECE workforce pursue additional education and credentials while being compensated and supported while they learn.
Join the National Association of Counties (NACo) on Thursday, September 5 from 2-3 pm EDT to hear how counties are utilizing apprenticeship programs to grow childcare supply and strengthen local economies.
