Forum Discusses Childcare Access, Workforce Progress

Several early childhood leaders met Oct. 29 in Hartford to discuss the current state of childcare in Connecticut and what can be done moving forward to support the industry and provide more affordable, accessible care.

The event was kicked off by Office of Early Childhood Commissioner Beth Bye, who highlighted some of the work that’s been done by the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Child Care.

Bye emphasized the importance of collaboration between state officials, providers, educators, parents, and the business community to find the most effective solutions to the lack of affordable childcare and the workforce shortage.

Through the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel, which CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima sits on, the state legislature in 2024 passed a pilot tri-share child care program for New London County, which shares the cost of childcare between the state, participating employers, and participating employees.

The initial allocation from the state included $1.8 million in ARPA funding and also established an advisory board to increase engagement with the private sector to support childcare initiatives to benefit employers and employees.

Other measures that were passed during the legislative session included the formation of Early Start CT, the governor’s plan to simplify the credentialing and licensing process under one roof and help build a more sustainable workforce pipeline. 

Quality of Care

The keynote speaker of the event, Ellen Galinsky, president of the Family and Work Institute, provided national statistics on childcare availability, workforce development, and the critical component of early care and education that shapes children as they grow and eventually become part of the workforce.

Galinsky emphasized the importance of maintaining and growing the quality of care for children, notably in the modernized 21st century that poses several challenges and obstacles for children to navigate through their early years.

Lamont and Bysiewicz emphasized the importance of addressing both childcare affordability and accessibility, and the workforce shortage.

The event was also highlighted by remarks and participation from Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.

Lamont and Bysiewicz emphasized the importance of addressing both childcare affordability and accessibility, and the workforce shortage.

Lamont has been a key ally to the Office of Early Childhood, notably this past legislative session with the passage of a pilot tri-share child care program, the expansion of the child care business incubator model, and the establishment of Early Start CT, which minimizes the administrative burden of programs, simplifies stated funded systems, and streamlines credentialing for aspiring professionals.

Policy Priority

In a recent survey of member companies, CBIA found that nearly 60% of respondents said childcare was a key factor in workforce retainment and development.

In response to the business community’s desire for child care investment and growth, CBIA has included child care as a key initiative in its 2024 ReimagineCT Policy Pledge, which serves as a roadmap for the organization’s 2025 legislative priorities.

“Childcare is one of CBIA’s top legislative priorities when it comes to workforce recruitment and retention,” said CBIA’s Paul Amarone.

“Childcare is one of CBIA’s top legislative priorities.”

CBIA’s Paul Amarone

“Today’s discussion was a perfect example of the increased collaboration between the public and private sectors when it comes to solving our state’s most pressing issues.

“Employers are looking for meaningful ways to close the nearly 100,000 job openings in the state, and affordable and accessible childcare is a big piece of the puzzle.”

Also in attendance were a bipartisan group of state legislators, Sen. Ceci Maher (D), Rep. Kate Farrar (D), Rep. Rachel Khanna (D), Rep. Kathleen McCarty (R), and Rep. Holly Cheesman (R), who have each been part of key childcare legislation in previous legislative sessions.

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For more information, contact CBIA’s Paul Amarone (860.244.1978).