Early Childhood Education

1. Employer Incentives: 

Access to quality, affordable, reliable child care decreases turnover rates and absenteeism for employers while increasing employee productivity.

The Early Childhood Education Focus area works with employers to analyze data and explore action items such as resources, policies, and funding available for child care benefits.  The Kentucky Employee Child Care Assistance Partnership Program (ECCAP) is one option for employers to implement child care as an infrastructure. ECCAP is a program is a shared cost of child care for the employee and employer, with a monetary match from Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS). 

2. Child care Industry Talent Attraction and Retention:

There is a critical shortage of qualified early childhood educators in Northern Kentucky which is a key barrier affecting a thriving workforce.

Investing in the early childhood career talent pipeline sustains the child care industry, benefiting all working families and businesses.

The Early Childhood Education focus area shares resources and information regarding scholarships and financial incentives available for those pursuing certifications and recruitment of child care programs, both center based and in home family child care providers. In addition, the focus area advocates for increasing the wages and benefits paid to early childhood educator professionals in Northern Kentucky.

3. Workforce Talent Attraction and Retention: 

Child care is an essential workforce support which contributes to the overall success of employers hiring and retaining quality employees.

The Early Childhood Education focus area ensures employers have the resources to connect their employees to safe, affordable, quality care. Focus area partners share resources and materials designed to educate and empower employers to establish family-friendly workplaces that result in child care as an infrastructure.