Anoka County is sounding the alarm over a steep decline in family child care providers, which is putting a squeeze on families in need of such services. Over the past few years, the number of licensed providers has plummeted from 430 at the end of 2019 to a sobering 280 today, a situation that could have broad impacts on the community.
Meeting the critical need for quality child care, especially for the youngest among us, is more important than ever. Parents are feeling the pinch, as their options for reliable and safe child care services for infants and toddlers are becoming fewer and farther between. Anoka County Child Care Licensing is finding itself at the forefront of this challenge, it’s tasked with the licensure and oversight of these family child care homes which can care for 10-12 children, ranging from 6 weeks to 11 years old.
While the decline is significant, Anoka County is working to provide solutions for families. Their Child Care Locator is an online tool designed to assist parents in finding family child care programs in their area. According to a recent article published by the county, “Families searching for child care can utilize Anoka County’s Child Care Locator. This online tool allows families to search for family child care programs near their homes and provides links to provider contact information and license history.”…