Town Hall Event Scheduled for August 16th

The Rural Childcare Innovation Program’s Core Team is planning their Town Hall Event on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 6:00pm at the First Baptist Church.

Schoolcraft Tourism & Commerce applied for The Rural Child Care Innovation Program (RCCIP) in 2021 and was one of six Michigan communities selected to participate in the 18-month long community engagement process designed to address the challenges of childcare in rural communities and support our current child care providers.

Since being selected, a Core Team of volunteers has been meeting virtually with First Children’s Finance representatives since February.

“I’ve been a home provider for 17 years and the need for childcare has always been more than the licensed capacity and number of providers in our area can provide. Licensed childcare allows for two children under 18 months of age which makes it a little more difficult for infants to find care. If we don’t have enough providers in the area, then newborns sometimes have to wait until current children reach over 18 months of age before they can attend childcare.” Kristin Petrelius, RCCIP Core Team Member.

The RCCIP program helps identify the scope and size of Schoolcraft County’s child care challenges and will present their findings at the Town Hall Event August 16th. With stakeholders of all kinds such as employers, child care providers, and non-profit organizations, the Town Hall will gather everyone together and facilitate a guided group exercise to brainstorm solutions custom to Schoolcraft County.

“The lack of available childcare seriously impacts the employer’s ability to recruit and retain talent.” Jim Messer Business Services Specialist from Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! And RCCIP Core Team Member.

The outcome of this event will be to develop a community solutions action plan that the Core Team and key stakeholders can begin implementing.

“It’s time to rally the community to find a solution for the child care situation in Schoolcraft County. Together we can!” James Gray, Community Resource Coordinator from MDHHS and RCCIP Core Team Member.

To follow along and learn more about the process and local updates, you can follow Together For Care on Facebook.

Appetizers and refreshments will be provided at the Town Hall Event. If you are interested in attending the Child Care Town Hall please RSVP to Alison Cook by August 9th at alison.cook@discovermanistique.com.