{"id":3897,"date":"2024-12-03T18:15:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-03T18:15:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wdcsd.com\/staged\/?page_id=3897"},"modified":"2026-05-28T18:38:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T18:38:17","slug":"childcare-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wdcsd.com\/staged\/childcare-initiatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Childcare Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"3897\" class=\"elementor elementor-3897\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-194d7531 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"194d7531\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5e74b8c0 top column-style-top\" data-id=\"5e74b8c0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c0f8c97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3c0f8c97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2f569daf elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"2f569daf\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-226b7287 top column-style-top\" data-id=\"226b7287\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4c32ce3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4c32ce3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-76c9ce2 top column-style-top\" data-id=\"76c9ce2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1532e3c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1532e3c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Child Care Collaboration &amp; Partnerships in Watertown, SD<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-018700c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"018700c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Access to reliable, affordable, and high\u2011quality child care is essential to a strong workforce and a thriving community. In Watertown and Codington County, child care is recognized as both a <strong>family issue and an economic development priority<\/strong>. Community leaders, service providers, employers, educators, and public agencies are working together to strengthen the local child care system and ensure families can participate fully in the workforce.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Community\u2011Wide Response to a Growing Need<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In recent years, child care has been identified as one of the most pressing needs in Codington County. A large majority of young children in the area rely on some form of child care, and survey data confirms that demand continues to increase as workforce participation remains high. Families report challenges finding available care, securing care quickly, and affording care that meets their needs\u2014particularly for infants, school\u2011aged children, and non\u2011traditional work schedules.<\/p>\n<p>In response, Watertown and Codington County formed a <strong>Child Care Action Team<\/strong>, bringing together representatives from city and county government, school districts, higher education, employers, child care providers, workforce organizations, and nonprofit partners. This group meets regularly to share updates, coordinate efforts, and guide a unified strategy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Using Data to Guide Decisions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A county\u2011wide <strong>Child Care Survey was conducted in 2026<\/strong> to ensure decisions are driven by real experiences of families and providers. The survey captured input from hundreds of parents and caregivers and highlighted several key themes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Most families rely on child care, but many contact multiple providers and wait weeks or months to secure care.<\/li>\n<li>Costs have increased significantly since 2022, making affordability a growing concern.<\/li>\n<li>Families prefer licensed child care centers but often rely on unregistered or informal care due to limited availability and cost.<\/li>\n<li>Gaps exist for before\u2011 and after\u2011school care, summer care, early morning hours, weekend care, and kindergarten\u2011age children.<\/li>\n<li>While many families are satisfied with the quality of care they receive, staffing shortages and capacity limitations continue to strain providers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These findings are being used to inform local planning, funding decisions, workforce strategies, and policy conversations.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supporting Providers and Expanding Capacity<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Watertown\u2019s child care strategy focuses not only on increasing slots, but also on <strong>supporting providers who deliver care every day<\/strong>. Community partners are working to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Strengthen the child care workforce through training, professional development, and quality improvement supports<\/li>\n<li>Expand licensed and registered care options while helping unregistered providers transition if they choose<\/li>\n<li>Support facility improvements, renovations, and expansions for existing providers<\/li>\n<li>Coordinate recruitment and retention of child care staff<\/li>\n<li>Align child care investments with employer needs and workforce growth<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Programs serving children\u2014from early learning centers to after\u2011school and summer programs\u2014are continually adapting to meet demand, improve quality, and respond to changing family needs.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Aligning Child Care with Workforce and Economic Development<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Child care access directly impacts employee recruitment, retention, and productivity. Employers across Watertown consistently identify child care as a barrier for workers\u2014particularly for parents in health care, manufacturing, education, retail, and service industries with non\u2011traditional schedules.<\/p>\n<p>By treating child care as critical infrastructure, Watertown is aligning workforce development, housing, education, and economic growth efforts. Reliable child care helps parents stay employed, supports early childhood development, and strengthens long\u2011term community stability.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Collaborative Path Forward<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Child care challenges cannot be solved by one organization alone. Watertown\u2019s approach is intentionally collaborative\u2014bringing together public, private, nonprofit, and educational partners to share responsibility, resources, and solutions.<\/p>\n<p>Through ongoing data collection, coordinated planning, provider support, and employer engagement, Watertown is building a more resilient child care system\u2014one that supports families, strengthens the workforce, and positions the community for sustainable growth.<\/p>\n<p>Collaborating partners include the City of Watertown, Codington Connects, Watertown Development Company, HR Professionals, Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce, Boys and Girls Club, My Little Village, Headstart, Educare, McKinley Early Learning Center, SDSU Extension, Early Learners, and Rachel Mohr Consulting.<\/p>\n<p>Want to get involved? Reach out to Angie Yahne at the Watertown Development Company for more information on how to get involved with local childcare initiatives.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b99e19 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"1b99e19\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"mailto:ayahne@wdcsd.com\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Email Angie<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Child Care Collaboration &amp; Partnerships in Watertown, SD Access to reliable, affordable, and high\u2011quality child care is essential to a strong workforce and a thriving community. In Watertown and Codington [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","slide_template_v7":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3897","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Childcare Initiatives | Watertown Development Company<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wdcsd.com\/staged\/childcare-initiatives\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Childcare Initiatives | Watertown Development Company\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Child Care Collaboration &amp; Partnerships in Watertown, SD Access to reliable, affordable, and high\u2011quality child care is essential to a strong workforce and a thriving community. 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