NWI Forum, Regional Care Group receive state child care grants for needs assessment, program

The Northwest Indiana Forum will be putting together a needs assessment for child care in the region and a strategic plan to address those needs.

The forum, which is based in Portage and focuses on the growth of business and industry, is receiving a $287,500 grant for the project, part of $18.1 million in employer-sponsored child care grants to 64 businesses, community groups and school corporations being distributed through the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

The grants, part of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s 2023 Next Level Agenda, were announced at the end of December. The Regional Care Group in Merrillville also received a $350,000 grant, which an official there said will be used for employee-sponsored child care, with its workforce receiving priority for available openings.

Several businesses, including Goodwill Industries and the Legacy Foundation in Lake County, approached the forum about submitting a grant application, said Jennifer Gadzala, the forum’s grant manager.

“A lot of businesses have expressed concerns about the need,” Gadzala said. “We want to put together a needs assessment and a strategy that businesses can use, and then meet with the employers about where they’re struggling and what they need.”

Businesses might need on-site child care, she said, or a site that offers nontraditional hours for shift workers, or child care reimbursement for employees. The goal, she added, is to get people into skilled jobs, or back into skilled jobs, without a lack of child care serving as a barrier.

In Lake County, according to the figures on the Indiana Youth Institute’s most recent dashboard for youth metrics across the state, the estimated demand for early childhood programs is for 23,173 children.

The total capacity in the county is just over half of that, at 12,225 spots available, with 7,626 of those considered “high quality” because they are licensed through the state and have applied for Paths to Quality certification.

In Porter County, the estimated demand for programs is for 7,375 children, while capacity is again vastly below that, at 2,382 available places. Of those, 1,968 are considered “high quality.”

The need is particularly great, Gadzala said, in rural counties, including Jasper, Newton and Pulaski, which have fewer child care options than their urban counterparts.

“Granted, it’s a smaller population but we have to get those people into skilled, higher paying jobs,” which will spur further economic growth, she said. “It’s not a one size fits all. We need something that’s specific for each need but equitable.”

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission’s economic development and recovery plan’s analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, or SWOT, noted that “one of the weaknesses was child care access,” Gadzala said.

The inability to find affordable child care can prevent women from entering the workforce, Tracey McElree, the Valparaiso Family YMCA’s senior director of advancement, has said.

“It’s just a domino effect if you can’t find affordable, high quality child care,” she said in October, adding the inability to have a job impacts social service agencies that assist families with food and other necessities.

Businesses interested in finding out more about the forum’s child care assessment can reach Gadzala at jgadzala@nwiforum.org, or reach out to Heather Ennis, the forum’s president and CEO, at hennis@nwiforum.org.

The effort also will include input from experts in workforce development, child care and small business development, Gadzala said.

Regional Care Group, which provides early childhood and other programs throughout Lake and Porter counties, received a grant for $350,000, and will use the funds for an employer-sponsored child care program, or ESCC, according to Ida Cage, Regional’s communications coordinator.

Regional Care Group’s grant for an employer-sponsored child care program, or ESCC, is expected to have several benefits for its employees, Ida Cage, the group’s communications coordinator, said.

“It will enhance employee satisfaction and engagement by offering a reliable child care solution, alleviating stress for our working parents,” Cage said in an email. “Our ESCC program will offer staff priority access and reduced copays. In addition, the network was also awarded the Early Years Initiative grant which focuses on serving the infant-toddler population.”

The network plans to combine these two awards to create a seamless infant, toddler, and preschool program for staff, Cage said, ensuring consistent, high-quality care.

“Regional Care Group anticipates a substantial reduction in revenue and productivity loss due to absenteeism, ultimately enhancing morale, engagement, and productivity among parent employees. This initiative contributes to improved retention and recruitment, making our organization more attractive to top talent, and ensuring a stable and skilled workforce,” Cage said, adding the assurance of well-cared-for children allows employees to focus better on tasks, leading to increased productivity and efficiency.

The child care initiative, Cage added, aims to tackle the specific challenges encountered by working parents, particularly women, and promotes equal opportunities in the workplace. “This all-inclusive approach can result in a more diverse and vibrant workforce, which in turn can foster innovation and creativity,” she said.

Additional grant recipients are expected to be announced early this year, according to a release from the FSSA. The program, offering $25 million in grants in all, is a partnership with the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, uses a portion of the state’s remaining federal relief funds from the COVID-19 pandemic.

alavalley@chicagotribune.com