Partnership between GWCHF and Madison College on this initiative began in Q2 2023 and since that time Madison College has had 24 individuals complete the program through 2023-2024 academic year. The goal of the projects is to increase by an additional 20 during the 24-25 school year and another 16 in the 25-26 school year for a total of 60 individuals completing the program. 

Contributing Factors:

• Promotion / marketing of the program.
• Bilingual class offerings / instructors. 

Limiting Factors:

• Lack of federal & state funding for high quality early childhood care

Per Dodge & Jefferson County Early Childhood education staff survey:

Unused capacity in group center child care programs was the result of an inability of centers to hire qualified staff as opposed to a lack of demand. 

Percent of centers reporting vacancies in their program because they could not hire staff to work in those rooms:  Dodge Co. - 50% | Jefferson Co. - 42%. 

Percent of centers reporting having full classrooms empty due to lack of staffing: Dodge Co. - 38% | Jefferson - 50%. 

Number of children that had to be turned away because program classrooms were closed due to staffing shortages: Dodge Co. - 103 | Jefferson Co. - 60.