WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING us OUR TOPIC TONIGHT: CHILD CARE CHALLENGES.

IT'S A LONGSTANDING DILEMMA FOR KENTUCKY FAMILIES, FINDING HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE DAYCARE, A FEAT COMPLICATED GREATLY BY THE COVID PANDEMIC.

CHILD CARE IS A SYSTEM, MANY SI IS FOUNDATIONAL TO ALL OTHER INDUSTRIES, BUT IS IT IN NEED OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT ITSELF?

WHAT DOES THE EARLY CHILDHOOD LANDSCAPE LOOK LIKE IN THE COMM WHO AND WHERE ARE THE UNDERSERVED, AND HOW CAN THE SYSTEM BE IMPROVED?

FOR ANSWERS, WE TURN TO: KRISTIN WALKER COLLINS, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE FOUNDATION FOR APPALACH SENATOR DANNY CARROLL, A REPUBLICAN FROM BENTON AND A DAYCARE OWNER.

AND BENJAMIN GIES, DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD POLICY AND PRACTICE AT THE RICHARD COMMITTEE FOR ACADE EXCELLENCE, ALL IN OUR LEXINGTO AND JOINING US IN OUR LOUISVILL KEVIN FIELDS, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AT LOUISVILLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTERS.

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THIS IS ONE OF THOSE PROGRAMS, SENATOR, THAT THERE'S A DILEMMA ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS AND IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE FOR A DISCUSSION, NOT NECESSARILY A DEBATE, ABOUT CHILD CARE, AND I'M SURE EVERYONE IS GIVING A SIGH OF RELIEF ABOUT THAT ONE TONIGHT.

SO LET'S PAINT THE PICTURE OF THE LANDSCAPE OF CHILD CARE IN KENTUCKY, AND I'M GOING TO TURN TO YOU, MR. GEIST, TO GIES THIS IS YOUR NEW ROLE AT THE PRICHARD COMMUNITY.

YOU KNOW THE STATS WHERE KENTUCKY STANDS AS WELL.

PAINT A PICTURE FOR US.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU, FIRST OF ALL, MS. SHAW FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> CALL ME RENEE.

>> REN pH THIS IS A BUCKET LIST ITEM FOR ME AND I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE.

BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANT TO THANK A CHILD CARE CHAMPION HERE AT THE TABLE WITH SENATOR DANNY CARROLL.

PLEASED TO BE WITH HIM AS WELL AS THE REST OF OUR COLLEAGUES AS WELL.

I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A CONDOLENCE TO REPRESENTATIVE BAM CARNEY AND HIS FAMILY.

I FIRST KNEW THAT I MIGHT BE GOOD AT THIS STUFF WHEN HE READ A OF THE MINE ON A PROGRAM OF "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

SO THANK YOU, BAM, FOR HELPING ME ALONG THE WAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR RECOGNIZING HIM RECOGNIZING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FIRST AND FOREMOST I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZED TO EVEN BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC,-OF-ALL KENTUCKIANS LIVED IN WHAT'S TERMS AS A CHILD CARE DESERT, AND WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT, THAT'S AN AREA OF THE STATE WITH LIMITED TO NO ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY REGULATED CHILD CARE.

AND SO IF 50% OF ALL KENTUCKIANS LIVED IN A CHILD CARE DESERT BEFORE COVID-19, IMAGINE THE SHOCK AND THE HORROR THAT EXISTED ON, YOU OF ALL DATES, FRIDAY THE 13th OF 2020 WHEN WE HAD TO BEGIN TO CONSIDER WHAT WILL THIS SECTOR LOOK LIKE AS IT BEGINS TO WRESTLE WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?

AND WHAT WILL THE SECTOR BE LEFT WITH?

WE KNOW WHAT ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, NACE.

WHAT IS PREDICTED THAT KENTUCKY COULD STAND TO LOSE AS MUCH AS 50%, HALF OF ITS CHILD CARE SECTOR IN THOSE EARLY DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.

WE'RE LUCKY, THANKS TO OUR OUTSTANDING FEDERAL LEADERS, MOST NOTABLY IN LEADER McCONNELL FOR HIS STATESMANSHIP BUT ALSO FOR CHAIRMAN YARMOUTH FOR HIS STATESMANSHIP AS WELL IN ACTING QUICKLY TO PROVIDE FEDERAL RELIEF WHICH STABILIZED THE SECTOR.

WE'RE LOOKING NOW AT ONLY ABOUT 10% OF THE SECTOR BEING LOST.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY, THAT IS BEING SPENT.

IT'S BEING SPENT WELL THANKS TO OUR LEADERS IN FRANKFORT, LIKE SENATOR CARROLL.

NOW WE NEED TO LOOK AT STABILIZING THE SECTOR.

HOW WILL WE ENSURE THAT WE TAKE A SECTOR THAT WAS ALWAYS ON SHAKY GROUND TO BEGIN WITH, IT'S ON MORE SOLID FOOTING NOW BUT IT'S STILL VERY TENUOUS, HOW WILL WE STABILIZE IT NOT ON FOR TODAY BUT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

>> AND TO GET TO YOUR POINT, THERE WERE MORE THAN 22 PROGRAMS, CHILD CARE PROGRAMS IN KENTUCKY BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

WILL WAS ESTIMATION THAT WE COULD LOSE 40%, EVEN NORTH OF THAT, BY THE ORGANIZATION THAT YOU HAD TOUTED.

BUT ACTUALLY WE HAVE A LITTLE OVER 2,000 THAT ARE REMAINING, AND SO -- AND THERE ARE 42 NEW FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES THAT ARE IN THE PROCESS OF OPENING ACCORDING TO THE KENTUCKY CAP NET FOR HEALTH CARE AND FAMILY SERVICES.

I WANT TO THANK YOU, KRISTIN, FOR BEING HERE AND FOR MAKING THE DRIVE.

EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A DIP AND THERE'S BEEN A DECLINE IN ACCESS, IT WASN'T AS BAD AS PREDICTED.

IS THAT ANY CONSOLATION?

>> YES AND NO IN THE FACT THAT IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE CENTERS OPENING AND THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN PROVIDING CHILD CARE, BUT IT'S STILL A STRAIN ON THE ONES THAT CURRENTLY EXIST AS WELL AS JUST STRETCHING SO FAR.

I LIVE IN A CHILD CARE DESERT.

THERE ARE FOUR CHILD CARE CENTERS IN THE COUNTY WHERE I LIVE.

>> AND WHERE IS YOUR COUNTY?

>> I LIVE IN PERRY COUNTY.

I'M IN HAZARD.

AND THERE ARE FOUR CHILD CARE CENTERS THERE.

WE HAVE SINCE THE PANDEMIC TWO FAMILY CHILD CARE CENTERS THAT HAVE OPENED, SO WE'RE UP TO THREE FAMILY CHILD CARE CENTERS AND FOUR CENTERS-BASED CENTERS.

SO THAT'S BEEN GOOD, BUT WE'VE ALSO SEEN CHILD CARE CENTERS THAT HAVE CLOSED.

OR THE FACT THAT THE CENTER WHERE MY CHILDREN GO, IT CLOSED, YOU KNOW, AS MANDATED TO CLOSE BY THE GOVERNOR, AND THE BOARD SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY MONEY.

LET'S JUST GO AHEAD AND SHUT DOWN FOR A LITTLE BIT, AND THE STAFF SHOWED UP AND SAID, WHERE ARE THESE CHILDREN GOING TO GO?

AND SO IT'S THE CAREGIVERS THAT MEAN SO MUCH THAT ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES A RISK EVERY DAY, AND SO HOW DO WE TAKE CARE OF NEM AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET WHAT THEY NEED AS WELL AS PROVIDING FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE CHILDREN THEMSELVES.

>> TO GET TO MR. GIES' POINT ABOUT CHILD CARE DESERTS, WHEN I DID A SIMILAR PROGRAM THAT SENATOR CARROLL WAS A PART OF BACK IN MARCH, APRIL OF 2019, WE TALKED ABOUT THE CHILD CARE DESERTS, AND PARTICULARLY IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST IN EASTERN KENTUCKY ISSUE.

WE KNOW THERE ARE POCKETS IN WESTERN KENTUCKY, POCKETS IN OUR URBAN CENTERS IN LOUISVILLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF MISNOMERS ABOUT WHERE THESE CHILD CARE DESERTS RESIDE, AND THEY'RE REALLY WIDESPREAD, RIGHT?

>> YES.

AND I THINK IT'S EASY TO SAY, OH, THE CHILD CARE DESERT IS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY BECAUSE WE ARE SPREAD OUT AND WE HAVE POCKETS OF PEOPLE AND POCKETS OF COMMUNITIES, AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO HAVE A GIANT CENTER SERVE WHEN THERE ISN'T A GIANT POPULATION, SO THE POPULATION IS NOT THERE TO CARRY IT.

I DO THINK ONE THING THAT IS GREAT THAT HAS COME OUT OF COVID-19 THAT WE'RE LEARNING IS THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY GOING FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CARE, AND THAT'S WHY FAMILY CHILD CARE CENTERS ARE SO IMPORTANT, AND MAKING AN EFFORT AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN OPEN AND FOLLOW THE REGULATIONS AND MAKE -- AND BE A SAFE PLACE FOR CHILDREN.

>> EXPLAIN THAT EXCEPT OF NEIGHBORHOOD CARE.

>> YES.

SO IT'S SMALLER NUMBERS, SMALLER COMMUNITIES, AND I KNOW THAT DURING THE PANDEMIC I WANTED TO KEEP IN MY BUBBLE, AND SO I THINK A FAMILY CHILD CARE CENTER ALLOWS THAT BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE OTHER FAMILIES THAT ATTEND THERE.

THERE'S FIVE OTHER CHILDREN WITH MINE.

YOU KNOW THE OTHER PARENTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE KEEPING THEM AS OPPOSED TO A LARGER CENTER.

>> SURE.

>> SO I DO THINK THAT THE NEED FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE HAS BECOME VERY APPARENT RECENTLY.

>> SURE.

SENATOR CARROLL, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT YOU'RE INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN FROM A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ANGLE BECAUSE YOU ARE A DAYCARE OLDER THAN IN WESTERN EXPELS A POLICYMAKER, OF COURSE, SO THIS HAS A LOT OF INTEREST FOR YOU.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE NOW, WHERE WE'VE BEEN THE LAST 18 MONTHS, HOW DO YOU ASSESS THE CHILD CARE LANDSCAPE IN KENTUCKY AND WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED?

>> IT'S TROUBLING.

AND THE CENTER THAT I OPERATE IS ACTUALLY A NON-PROFIT.

SO WE -- WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE GAMUT OVER THE PAST YEAR, AND WE CLOSED FOR 12 WEEKS, WE WERE ABLE TO PAY OUR STAFF DURING THAT TIME.

WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO REOPEN, AND THEN STAFFING BECAME AN IMMEDIATE ISSUE WHEN THE KIDS RETURNED.

WE REALLY STRUGGLED.

AND TO THE POINT WE ARE TODAY, WE HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO CLOSE A CLASSROOM BECAUSE WE SIMPLY CANNOT FIND THE STAFFING.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE EXERCISE WITH THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE COME IN TO HELP, AND THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE ASSET TO HELP MANY CENTERS SURVIVE THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, BUT WE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE PROCESS OF RAISES IN OUR ENTIRE PAY SCALE.

WE HAVE DONE BONUSES FOR OUR STAFF.

WE HAD -- I WAS TELLING MY FRIENDS HERE THAT WE HAD A FAIR LAST WEEK.

WE HAD TEN PEOPLE SHOW UP.

WE HAVE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT LOCK ONLINE AND THEY HIT OUR ADS AND THEN THEY WILL SEND A MESSAGE AND THEN THEY NEVER SHOW UP TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION.

AND THAT STANDARD IS ACROSS A LOT OF INDUSTRIES.

>> THAT'S PRETTY ROUTINE.

>> EVERYWHERE I GO AND COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S THE SAME STORY.

THE FRUSTRATION WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE 50 APPLICANTS, ONE OR TWO MIGHT SHOW UP FOR AN INTERVIEW, AND THAT'S THE UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE, WHICH IS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT TOPIC.

>> BUT IT'S AFFECTING THIS INDUSTRY.

>> VERY RELATED.

>> I WANT TO GO TO MR. FIELDS IN OUR LOUISVILLE STUDIO.

THANK YOU, SIR, FOR JOINING, AND YOU TELL US ABOUT THE FACILITIES, THE CENTERS THAT YOU RUN AND JUST GIVE US SOME MORE INSIGHT ABOUT HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED YOU AND HOW HOPEFULLY THINGS ARE TURNING AROUND.

>> WELL, RENEE, 52, FIRST, FOR HOSTING THIS VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION CHALLENGES OF CHILD CARE BECAUSE IT IS INDEED A CHALLENGE, AND I'M GLAD TO BE ON THIS PROGRAM WITH A FELLOW OPERATOR, SENATOR CARROLL, BECAUSE THE CHALLENGES THAT HE ARTICULATED AND THE PLAYBOOK THAT HE HAS TALKED ABOUT ARE THE EXACT SAME THINGS A WE'RE MACING HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

SO I'M LOCATED IN LOUISVILLE IN THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD, LOUISVILLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND WE HAVE A 73-YEAR HISTORY SERVING POOR FAMILIES IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND OUR FLAGSHIP FOR DOING THAT IS DIVERSITY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

SO WE'RE LOCATED RIGHT JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN.

THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD IS THE GAIT INTO WEST LOUISVILLE.

AND SO -- GATEWAY INTO WEST LOUISVILLE.

AND SO THE ISSUES ARE VERY MUCH THE SAME.

BUT I DO WANT TO ADD THAT LONG BEFORE COVID-19, SERVING POOR FAMILIES WITH QUALITY CHILD CARE, AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE QUALITY BECAUSE THAT'S OUR GOAL, IS A CHALLENGE.

IT'S MORE THAN A CHALLENGE.

AND FOR YEARS WE OPERATED TWO CENTERS, THE MINI UNIVERSITY EAST AND WEST AND WE HAD TO ACTUALLY CLOSE ONE OF THOSE CENTERS A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO SIMPLY BECAUSE IT'S A TOUGH BUSINESS TO BE IN, AND IF YOU'RE NOT A NON-PROFIT, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN MAKE IT AS A BUSINESS BECAUSE IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE.

SO I THINK WE'RE AT A POINT IN OUR HISTORY WHERE WE NEED TO REALLY RETHINK, REWORK THE SYSTEM, THE POLICIES AT THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL AROUND PROVIDING QUALITY CHILD CARE, ESPECIALLY IN URBAN INNER CITY AREAS WHERE WE'RE SERVING POOR FAMILIES, AND I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY A SIMILAR CHALLENGE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN KENTUCKY AS WELL, BUT IN WEST LOUISVILLE WE'VE SEEN MANY CENTERS CLOSE.

WE WOULD HAVE CLOSED BUT FOR SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT CAME OUT OF THE COVID RELIEF FUNDING.

HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT TOTALLY.

SO WE'RE STILL STRUGGLING, THOUGH, EVEN TODAY.

>> CAN YOU TELL US SOME STATS ON HOW MANY KIDS YOU SERVE AND YOU MENTIONED ABOUT YOUR STORIED HISTORY.

AND ALSO IN THE CONTEXT OF THAT ANSWER, IF YOU CAN TALK TO US -- YOU HIT ON A VERY IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT EVEN THOUGH THERE MAY BE ACCESS, ACCESS TO HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS A DIFFERENT MATTER ALTOGETHER.

>> WELL, WE'RE STATE REGULATED, AND IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE SYSTEM, THERE'S THE STARS QUALITY RATING SYSTEM.

WE FOR A LONG TIME WERE THE ONLY THREE STAR RATED CENTER IN ALL OF WEST LOUISVILLE.

WE WERE LICENSED AT ONE POINT TO WELL OVER -- ABOUT 225 CHILDREN, AND NOW WE'RE LICENSED BECAUSE WE CLOSED A SECOND SITE FOR 123.

WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION EFFORT.

IF YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU MAY HAVE LEARNED THAT THE PUBLIC HOUSING CENTER IS BEING DEVELOPED.

AND SO WE'RE RIGHT IN THE MIDST OF THAT.

BECAUSE OF THAT WORK, THE RELOCATION OF FAMILIES FROM THE TERRACE, WE HAVE SEEN A DECREASE IN OUR ENROLLMENT EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BUT WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE CERTAINLY WERE FLATLINED.

WE WENT TO A ZERO, AND THEN WE CAME BACK AFTER POST-COVID OPENING UP IN MAYBE THE SINGLE DIGITS.

NOW WE'RE UP TO ABOUT 35 KIDS BEING ENROLLED, SO WE'RE REBUILDING OURSELVES, SO WE'VE KIND OF REALLY WENT UNDER BUT HAVE REVITALIZED OUR EFFORT BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO SUSTAIN OUR PROGRAM.

WE TO THIS DAY ARE ONE OF VERY FEW QUALITY PROVIDERS IN WEST LOUISVILLE, IN ALL OF WEST LOUISVILLE, AND IT'S -- FROM A FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, IT IS STILL A STRUGGLE.

WE ARE A NON-PROFIT.

WE DO DEPEND ON STATE SUBSIDY BUT IT'S REALLY NOT ENOUGH, AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S DWINDLING.

WE ALSO UNITED WAY AGENCY, UNITED WAY FUNDING FOR US HAS BEEN ON THE DECLINE.

AND, OF COURSE, WE SERVE POOR FAMILIES, SO WE DON'T SERVE FAMILIES WHO HAVE THE CAPACITY TO PAY OUR FEE, OUR REGULAR TUITION WITHOUT HELP.

SO WE DO HAVE TO DO A LOT TO RAISE MONEY, AND WE USE EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW WITHIN OUR CAPACITY TO RAISE MONEY, TO SUBSIDIZE POOR FAMILIES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SAME KIND OF QUALITY THAT WE HAVE FOR YEARS.

BUT I MUST SAY I'M PRAYING FOR AN AWAKENING WITHIN OUR PUBLIC POLICY, CONVERSATIONS ABOUTING, YOU KNOW -- AND IF I CAN REALLY JUST ELABORATE, WE'RE IN WEST LOUISVILLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES.

EVERY SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATOR WITHIN THIS PREDOMINANTLY AFRICAN AMERICAN PART OF THE STATE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHALLENGE.

BUT I'M CONVINCED THAT UNTIL WE FIX THE EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM, BECAUSE WE HAVE A K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM, WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S ADEQUATELY FUNDED, CERTAINLY POST SECONDARY IS SUBSTANTIALLY FUNDED, BUT WE DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES DEDICATED TO PROVIDING QUALITY EDUCATION, QUALITY DEVELOPMENT, CHILD DEVELOPMENT FROM BIRTH TO FIVE.

SO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THAT TIME IS WE'RE LOSING TOO MANY CHILDREN, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LEARN THAT HALF THE CHILDREN IN THE STATE ARE SHOWING UP NOT READY FOR KINDERGARTEN, ACCORDING TO THOSE MEASURES THAT THEY'RE SCORED AGAINST, AND FOR US WITHIN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, IT'S EVEN MORE THAN 50%.

SO, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE REAL ISSUES THAT UNTIL WE COME TO GRIPS WITH THEM AND REALLY TAKE THEM ON AND DO RIGHT BY THE BABIES OF OUR SOCIETY AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPORT, THAT'S NOT ONLY WITH EDUCATION BUT ALSO WITH HEALTH CARE, UNTIL WE DO THAT, THEN WE CAN EXPECT HIGH DROP-OUT RATES, WE CAN EXPECT ALL THE OTHER SOCIAL ILLS THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT IN WEST LOUISVILLE AND LOUISVILLE PROPER, WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT VIOLENCE RIGHT NOW.

WHAT I WOULD SAY THAT YOU CAN DRAW A DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THOSE INSTANCES TO THE KIND OF PREPARATION CHILDREN GOT FROM BIRTH.

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF NODDING OF HEADS HERE, AND WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO SOME OF THOSE FUNDING ISSUES AND POLICY ISSUES.

MR. GUISE, WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT AT LENGTH LAST WEEK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WE TALKED ABOUT THERE'S NO NATIONAL CHILD CARE POLICY.

WE KNOW THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS PUT FORTH A $225 BILLION PACKAGE, HAS PRESENTED THAT THAT WOULD HELP IN SOME OF THESE AREAS BUT THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A NATIONAL CHILD CARE POLICY.

IS THAT CORRECT?

WOULD THAT HELP MITIGATE SOME OF THESE CONCERNS IN KENTUCKY IF THAT EXISTED?

>> WELL, RENEE, I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT.

AT ONE POINT IN OUR HISTORY I BELIEVE BACK IN THE 1970S, A UNIVERSAL SYSTEM OF CHILD CARE CAME VERY CLOSE.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT COME TO BEAR.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WEISE CONSIDER WASHINGTON, AS WE CONSIDER WASHINGTON, DC, AND OUR AND IT CAPITOL IN KENTUCKY, WHAT'S MISSING IN OUR CONVERSATION IS THE CONVERSATION LOCAL INNOVATION BECAUSE WE KNOW TEACHCH OUR COMMUNITIES ARE VERY UNIQUE, THEY'RE VERY DIVERSE THEY HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS.

AND SO AN ITEM THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR OUR CONSIDERATION TODAY IS A PROGRAM THAT THE PRICHARD COMET FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND THE PUBLIC LIFE FOUNDATION OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER, AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IN OWENSBORO, DAVIS COUNTY, KENTUCKY IS WE HAVE CONVENED A CROSS SECTOR POWERHOUSE OF COMMUNITY LEADERS, OVER 40 IN TOTAL, THAT REPRESENT LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, THE NON-PROFIT SECTOR, CH12 PUBLIC EDUCATION, K-12 PRIVATE EDUCATION, HIGHER EDUCATION, CORPORATE INTERESTS, SMALL BUSINESS INTERESTS.

YOU NAME IT, IF THEY ARE A LARGE COMMUNITY LEADER IN OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY, WE'VE TALKED TO THEM.

THEY'RE A MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU'RE FROM OWENSBORO AND YOU SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO ME, CALL ME, EMAIL ME.

I'D LOVE TO COME AND TALK TO YOU.

BUT ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND IT'S A SIMPLE GOAL BUT IT'S A VERY HARD-TO-ACHIEVE GOAL, AND THAT'S THAT ANY FAMILY IN OWENSBORO, DAVIS COUNTY, KENTUCKY THAT WANTS ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, GETS IT.

PERIOD.

THERE'S NO WAIT LIST.

THERE'S NO "I CAN'T AFFORD IT."

THERE'S NO "MY CHILD HAS TO GO TO A ONE STAR BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD THE FIVE STAR."

AND SO WE HAVE CONVENED A CROSS SECTOR OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT REALLY THAT IS A CAN-DO SPIRIT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN TO OWENSBORO.

MY FOOD GOODNESS, AM I IMPRESSED WITH OWENS WALTERBORO, KENTUCKY.

YOU SEE A GROUP OF FOLKS THAT THEY SEE A GOAL AND THEY WANT TO ACHIEVEMENT.

WE HOSTED OUR KICKOFF THERE ON JUNE 30th COMPLETE WITH OLD HICKORY BARBECUE AND A BLUEGRASS -- >> YOU HAVE TO HAVE BARBECUE IF YOU'RE GOING TO OWENSBORO.

>> LAST TIME WAS HICKORY BUT WE HAVE TO BE EQUAL AND FAIR.

AND WE HAVE A FEW BLUEGRASS PERFORMANCES.

WHAT EMERGED FROM THAT WAS A DEDICATED POWERHOUSE COMMUNITY GROUP THAT'S LOOKING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.

>> AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY, WHICH IS FAIRLY LARGE IN POPULATION BY STANDARDS, WOULDN'T HAVE THE THE KIND OF ISSUES WITH CHILD CARE THAT MAYBE WE HEAR ABOUT IN OTHER PLACES, BUT IT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THIS IS AN UNEQUAL OR AN EQUAL ISSUE ACROSS THE STATE.

SO THE IDEA IS THAT IN A FEW YEARS YOU WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED A STRATEGIC PLAN.

>> CORRECT.

>> TO HAVE UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE.

>> YES.

>> WITHOUT ANY REQUIREMENTS ON INCOME OR ELIGIBILITY.

IT WOULD JUST BE OPEN AND AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED?

>> WHAT WE SAY IS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR UNIVERSAL, HIGH-QUALITY AND VOLUNTARY.

AGAIN, ANY FAMILY WHO WOULD WANT IT IN THE OWENSBORO, DAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY, AND SO YOU SAY YEARS.

WE'RE MOVING AT WARP SPEED.

SO WE HAVE A COORDINATING COMMITTEE THAT WILL MEET FROM NOW UNTIL THE CLOSE OF THIS YEAR.

FROM THERE ON WE WILL PRESENT A FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL HAVE BROAD BASED COMMUNITY INPUT AND SUPPORT.

WE'RE NOT ONLY TALKING TO THE,, QUOTE/UNQUOTE,, MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF THE COMMUNITY BUT AS I LIKE THE SAY THE BUTCHER, THE BAKER AND THE CANDLESTICK MAKER.

EVERYONE EVER EVERYONE WHO MAKES OWENSBORO WHAT IT IS IS WHO WE WANT TO TALK TO.

AND SO WE ARE WORKING A RESEARCHER NOW AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY WHO IS PUTTING TOGETHER A LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS THAT WILL SHOW US THE STATUS QUO OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ACCESS IN DAVIS COUNTY, KENTUCKY BUT ALSO POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION OF WHERE THE HOLES ARE WE CAN FILL.

SO THIS GROUP WE'RE GOING TO WANT TO GET IN AND STRIKE QUICKLY.

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL ITEMS THAT I CALL LOW-HANGING FRUIT THAT WE WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IMMEDIATELY BUT THEN WE'RE WORKING COLLECTIVELY OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WITH THAT BROAD-BASED COMMUNITY INPUT ANDPORT TO MAKE OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY, THE ALL CAPS, BOLD UNDERLINED, THE NATIONAL MODEL FOR HOW A COMMUNITY SOLVES ACCESS TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.

>> SO WE'LL HAVE TO FOLLOW THIS ALONG THE WAY TO SEE HOW -- >> ABSOLUTELY, RENEE.

I INVITE YOU TO IR FIRST COORDINATING COMMITTEE MEETING THAT WILL BE LATE AUGUST.

PLEASE COME COME DOWN AND CHECK IT OUT.

>> SURE.

WE KNOW LOTS OF PARENTS HAVE LOTS OF OPINIONS ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY TO CHILD CARE AND WE'D BE REMISS AND NOT AT LEAST HIGHLIGHTING ONE STORY -- THIS ISN'T REPRESENTATIVE EVERYONE'S EXPERIENCE BUT WE CAUGHT UP WITH A WOMAN NAMED DANIELLE BRADLEY FROM GLASGOW, KENTUCKY WE TALKED TO HER BY SKYPE ON FRIDAY ABOUT THE CHILD CARE CHALLENGES SHE FACES.

SHE HAS FIVE CHILDREN, TWO OF WHOM ARE HER BY LOGICAL CHILDREN, THREE ARE ADOPTED, AND SHE'S GOT ONE CURRENTLY IN DAYCARE.

WITHOUT CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE, SHE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD CHILD CARE, AND HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT SHE HAD TO SHARE WITH US ON FRIDAY.

>> THE HARDEST THING I THINK FOR ME IS RUNNING A DAYCARE RIGHT NOW, THEY -- [INDECIPHERABLE] DURING MY REGULAR HOURS AT WORK, I WORK UNTIL 6:00 AND THEN ON OTHER HOURS I WORK 5:30.

AND MOST DAYCARES DURING THIS TIME CLOSE AT 5:30.

SO IT'S HARD FOR ME TO GET FROM MY JOB TO THE DAYCARE WITHOUT GOING OVER MY TIME, A LOT OF TIMES, SAYING THAT I HAVE TO ASK FOR DAYCARE.

>> AND ARE YOU PENALIZED IF YOU'RE LATE IN PICKING UP YOUR CHILD?

>> OH, YES.

>> SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT'S A DOLLAR A MINUTE AFTER YOUR 5:30 TIME.

>> SO SOMETIMES YOU COULD BE PAYING, WHAT, AN EXTRA $10 A DAY JUST BECAUSE OF THE COMMUTE TIME TO GET FROM YOUR JOB TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD.

SO TELL US ABOUT DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC.

WHAT WERE SOME CHALLENGES YOU FACED THEN?

DID YOU TO HAVE CHOOSE BETWEEN WORK AND CHILD CARE?

>> YES, I DID.

THERE WERE SEVERAL TIMES THAT I HAD EITHER HAD TO WORK FROM HOME OR I HAD TO STAY AT WORK JUST SO I COULD FEED BY KIDS BECAUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN THEIR DAYCARE SO THEY COULD REOPEN THEM UP THE RIGHT WAY, AND IT FORCED ME TO HAVE TO STAY HOME WITH THEM.

>> SO FOR YOU THE BIGGEST ISSUE YOU'RE FACING NOW IS THE FACT THAT YOUR WORK SCHEDULE IS NOT IN SYNC WITH WHEN THE DAYCARE CENTER WOULD STAY OPEN, AND SO YOU LOOK AT PENALTIES FOR THAT.

>> YES.

>> FOR THE PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, HOW -- FROM CONVERSATIONS YOU HAVE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, HOW ARE THEY MANAGING CHILD CARE?

HAVE THEY BEEN IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS OR PERHAPS EVEN WORSE?

>> YEAH, THEY'VE BEEN IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS, BUT THEY PROBABLY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE WORSE THAN I HAVE BECAUSE I DO SOMETIMES HAVE A SITTER THAT CAN KEEP MY KIDS FOR ME WHEN THE DAYCARE IS SHUT DOWN ON HOLIDAYS OR THE DAYCARE IS SHUT DOWN, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES DURING THE PANDEMIC IF I COULD AFFORD IT, BUT THEY'RE NOT AS LUCKY BECAUSE THEY SOMETIMES CAN'T AFFORD FOOD, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY THEIR HOURS END AT 5:30, AND THEY DON'T GET OFF -- THEY'RE LIKE ME GETTING OFF AT 6:00, AND IT'S VERY HARD FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD THE TIME AT THE END, THE $1 A MINUTE, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THAT AND THEY HAVE TO KEEP THEIR KIDS HOME OR STAY HOME WITH THEIR KIDS AND NOT WORK BECAUSE OF IT.

>> HOW MUCH TYPICALLY DAUS DID I CARE RUN YOU A WEEK OR A MONTH?

>> RIGHT NOW MY SON I THINK I PAY ABOUT $122 A WEEK FOR HIM.

>> IF YOU COULD TESTIFY BEFORE LAWMAKERS, STATE LAWMAKERS IN FRANKFORT ABOUT THE THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOU MIGHT NEED, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM?

H.?

>> I WOULD PROBABLY SAY TO GIVE DAYCARES MORE TIME THAN 6:00 AND TO GIVE THEM SOME HELP SO THEY CAN PROVIDE THE STUFF LIKE I NEED.

PROVIDE TIME TO DO SCHOOL WORK WITH THEM.

PROVIDE MORE PEOPLE THERE SO THEY CAN HAVE MORE ONE-ON-ONE WITH THE KIDS.

AND IF THEY HAD THAT, I THINK THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE ABLE TO WORK AND NOT STAY AT HOME, BUT PEOPLE ARE SO AFRAID OF LEAVING THEIR KIDS HOME, YOU KNOW -- OR LEAVING THEIR KIDS WITH PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE AFRAID TO GO TO WORK, AND THEY'RE ALSO AFRAID OF NOT BEING ABLE TO AFFORD DAYCARE.

>> REALLY GOOD POINTS.

DANIELLE BRADLEY, I REALLY THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR STORY AND EXPERIENCE WITH US.

>> SURE.

>> SO SENATOR CARROLL I WANT TO GO RIGHT TEW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET TO THE NITTY-GRITTY OF THIS FOR A PARENT, OKAY, I DON'T GET OFF WORK UNTIL 5:30, AND THEY CLOSE AT 5:30, AND IF I CAN'T GET THERE UNTIL 6:00, THAT'S $30 YOU.

MULTIPLY THAT BY FIVE DAYS A WEEK, YOU'VE GOT 150 EXTRA DOLLARS THAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR CHILD CARE ON TOP OF WHAT WAS ALREADY THE REGULAR.

SO THINK ABOUT THAT.

I KNOW YOU KNOW ABOUT THESE OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES AS WELL.

WHEN YOU HEAR HER STORY, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RESPONSE TO MS. BRADLEY?

>> IT'S VERY COMMON.

WE HAVE PARENTS THAT DEAL WITH THAT EVERY DAY, AND IT IS I THINK PRETTY MUCH STANDARD POLICY THAT THE CENTERS DO HAVE THAT POLICY TO CHARGE FOR EXTRA MINUTES.

NOW, N. OUR CASE, AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T SAY THIS, IS IT EVER ENFORCED?

VERY, VERY RARELY.

AND WE DO TRY TO UNDERSTAND IF IT'S A PARENT THAT IS WORKING AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S DIFFERENT THIS IF THEY'RE OUT AT THE GYM OR SHOPPING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT WE KNOW OUR FAMILIES WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND WE DO TRY TO CUT TOM SLACK FOR THAT.

BUT A LOT OF ISSUES IN THAT.

AND SHE IS RIGHT WITH THE COMMENTS SHE MADE.

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HAVE MORE STAFF TO DO MORE ONE-ON-ONE, BUT EVERY TIME YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT'S JUST ADDED EXPENSE, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A PROFIT MARGIN FOR THOSE WHO ARE PRIVATELY OWNED KAUR GIVERS.

THERE IS NO PROFIT MARGIN.

YOU CAN'T -- AT OUR CENTER, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 120 KIDS AT FULL CAPACITY, IF WE RELIED JUST ON OUR CHILD CARE CENTER, ELDERLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTER, WE DO NOT SURVIVE.

WE'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT WE HAVE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT CARRY THAT PROGRAM.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THAT'S WHAT THESE CENTERS ARE DEALING WITH ACROSS THE STATE.

THERE ARE ALL THESE DEMANDS AND THEY WANT QUALITY, THEY WANT TEACHERS THAT ARE TRAINED, THAT HAVE DEGREES, AND THAT COMES WITH A COST, AND SO THAT'S THE BALANCE.

AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SECRET.

OUR CURRENT MODEL DOESN'T WORK.

YOU CAN'T BILL MOM AND DAD OR THE CAREGIVER, THE CUSTODIAN ENOUGH TO MAKE A PROFIT IN CHILD CARE THESE DAYS.

IT'S JUST NOT FEASIBLE.

THE MODEL JUST SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK.

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU'RE JUST PAYING JUST FOR THE OPERATIONAL COSTS, PAYING FOR THE STAFF, TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON.

THERE'S NO PROFIT MARGIN AT ALL HARDLY.

>> IN THAT PROGRAM, NO, BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THE FOOD PROGRAM, YOU LOOK AT THE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE, THE STAFF, AND IT'S JUST -- AND I'VE BEEN THERE 11 YEARS NOW, AND EVERY YEAR IT'S JUST -- WE LOOK AT THAT, AND WE JUST SAY, THANK GOODNESS FOR OUR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT DO GENERATE SOME REVENUE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO KEEP THAT BALANCE.

AND I WONDER, THESE SMALL BUSINESSES, SMALL CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THAT RELY ON THAT INCOME TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES, HOW DO THEY SURVIVE?

ESPECIALLY DURING THE COVID ISSUES BEFORE THE FEDERAL DOLLARS STARTED COMING IN.

>> SO FROM A PATROLS PERSPECTIVE, WHAT CAN CHANGE FOR DANIELLE BRADLEY AND OTHER LIKES HER?

>> I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE WAY WE DO IT.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT MODELS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK RIGHT NOW -- I DON'T THINK WE'LL HAVE A BETTER TIME TO DO THIS BECAUSE WE HAVE -- THERE'S A LITTLE OVER $400 MILLION THAT WILL BE COMING TO CHILD CARE IN THE COMMONWEALTH THAT THE CENTERS WILL GET THAT ARE STARS RELATED, STARS RATED, AND THERE ARE SOME OTHER STIPULATIONS THAT GO WITH THE FUNDING, BUT THIS WILL HELP CARRY CENTERS THROUGH TO 2024, I BELIEVE, AND SO AS A POLICY MAKER, I THINK THAT GIVES US SOME LATITUDE AND SOME TIME TO REALLY TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE STRUCTURE OF HOW THIS WORKS BECAUSE IT'S -- WE'RE NOT GOING TO SURVIVE THE WAY IT IS.

AND FOR US TO GET WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS A COMMONWEALTH AND HAVE THESE YOUNG CHILDREN PREPARED WHEN THEY GO TO KINDERGARTEN AND TO MAKE IT SOMEWHAT PROFITABLE, AND THERE ARE ALL THESE DIFFERENT MODELS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY ONE SINGLE APPROACH.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU IS THERE SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT TO YOU THAT YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT OR SEEN THAT IS A GOOD MODEL THAT WORKS.

OR -- >> SHE JUST BROUGHT UP AN IDEA AS WE WERE TALKING OUT IN THE LOBBY, AND THERE'S A -- IT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE.

WHEN LINDA HAMPTON WAS WITH THE STATE IN EARLY CHILDHOOD, SHE WAS ALWAYS -- IT'S JUST ALL THE ABOVE, ALL THE ABOVE, AND WE CAN'T LOOK AT ALL-DAY PRESCHOOL FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

WE DON'T HAVE THE CAPABILITIES TO DO THAT.

SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT EVERY AVENUE THAT WE HAVE, AND WE HAVE TO LOOK AT SOME INNOVATIVE IDEAS, LIKE SHE HAS AS WE MOVE FORWARD, AND I THINK AS A POLICY MAKER THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO HEAR OVER THE NEXT TWO, THREE YEARS TO MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> I CAN SEE YOU MAKING SOME TRIPS TO FRANKFORT NEAR FUTURE.

TELL US IF YOU CAN GIVE US A SNEAK PEEK OF WHAT YOU SHARED WITH SENATOR CARROLL.

>> I APPRECIATE THE SETUP.

SO ONE MODEL THAT HAS WORKED REALLY WELL WITH HEALTH CARE IS THE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED IN COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

SO THINKING ABOUT THAT IN THE TERMS OF CHILD CARE, SO A COMMUNITY RECEIVES A GRANT TO OPEN A CHILD CARE CENTER.

THEY RUN THAT CENTER, AND THEN AT THE END OF THE YEAR THEY SUBMIT THE ACTUAL COSTS OF WHAT IT COST TO RUN THAT CENTER.

SO THE ACTUAL COSTS FOR THE ZERO -- FOR THE INFANT ROOM AND FOR THE TODDLER ROOM AND FOR THE FOOD PROGRAM AND THE EXPENSES FOR THE BUILDINGS AND ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN THEY GET REIMBURSED FOR THAT.

AND THEN THEIR SUBSIDY VATE ALSO TIED TO THAT REIMBURSEMENT RATE.

ALL THE THE WHILE YOU ALSO HAVE A SLIDING SCALE FOR PAYMENT.

SO A PRIVATE PAY CUSTOMER CAN PAY THE FULL RATE, BUT THEN SOMEONE WHO WOULD QUALIFY FOR THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WOULD PAY A SMALLER RATE, THE SUBSIDY RATE OR WHATEVER THAT LOOKED LIKE, AND THEN THAT INCOME IN BETWEEN COULD PAY THE DIFFERENCE.

AND SO LOOKING AT THAT MODEL, YOU COULD REACH COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE CHILD CARE, SO ALLEVIATING THAT CHILD CARE DESERT, BECAUSE YOU CAN CREATE CENTERS THAT FIT THE POPULATION THAT YOU NEED.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT WOULD WORK IN HAZARD COUNTY.

>> >> I DO.

WE HAVE A FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTER THAT WORK QUITE WONDERFULLY, BUT THEN IT ALSO LEAVES THE OPTIONAL FOR HAVING PRIVATELY.

OWNED CHILD CARE.

YOU'RE NOT GETTING RID OF THAT.

WE STILL HAVE HOSPITALS.

WE STILL HAVE HEALTH CLINICS.

BUIA BUT WE ALSO HAVE FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS.

SO IT GIVES YOU THAT OPTION TO HAVE THAT FOR THE POPULATION THAT NEEDS IT, AND THEN GETTING TO THE POINT THAT SENATOR CARROLL WAS MAKING ABOUT THERE IS NO PROFIT MARGIN, SO IF YOU'RE JUST RUNNING ON WHAT IT COSTS, YOU'RE STILL PAYING YOUR EMPLOYEES A LIVEABLE WAGE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE QUALITY IS THERE AS WELL SO THAT REIMBURSEMENT RATE COULD BE TIED TO THE QUALITY AND THE STARS RATING, AND SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE INCORPORATING ALL THE GOOD PIECES THAT RETURN WORK AND THEN MAKING A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY.

>> INTERESTING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, MR. GUISE?

ABOUT WELL, I THINK THAT MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE DESCRIBED SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT I WAS COMMENTING ON EARLY, THAT THIS IS LOCAL INNOVATION.

WHAT WORKS FOR OWENSBORO MAY NOT WORK FOR HAZARD.

BUT IF WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WORKS FOR THESE INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITIES AND TO DO A CONVENING IN HAZARD SIMILAR TO THE ONE WE'VE DONE IN OWENSBORO, WHICH I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT, I THINK THAT WE COULD BE ON THE WAY NOTHING BIG HERE IN HOW WE REALLY PRUSSIA THIS ISSUE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN BUILDING A GROUNDSWELL OF LOCAL SUPPORT, A REAL, WE THE PEOPLE, WE THE CITIZENS MOMENT, AND CARING FOR OUR CHILDREN AND REALLY SETTING UP A SYSTEM THAT WILL LAST THE TEST OF TIME.

>> AND WE KNOW THAT THIS BOILS DOWN TO A WORKFORCE USUAL.

SENATOR CARROLL MENTIONED IT EARLIER WHEN WE BEGAN OUR PROGRAM ABOUT FINDING QUALIFIED, TRAINED, PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED WORKERS, AND THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S NOT JUST A LABOR SHORTAGE IN THE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY, BUT THAT'S ACROSS THE BOARD, SO THIS IS A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE FROM MANY ANGLES, AND WE KNOW THAT HIGHER ED AND THERE ARE OTHER PARTNERS AND CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE WHO ARE A PART OF THIS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MOVEMENT.

SO THAT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGING, THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS WHO RECOGNIZED THAT MAYBE K-12, OF COURSE, IS SUBSIDIZED BY THE STATE AND HIGHER ED IS BUT THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING TO BE GAINED WITH THESE FIRST VERY TENDER FIVE YEARS THAT I LOT RIDES ON THERE, BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND THEIR SUCCESSION NOT JUST WHEN TAKING THE BRAGG BRAG EXPANSE MATRICULATING TO KINDERGARTEN BUT THE EXPERIENCE, MS. COLINS.

>> WE'VE COME A LONG WAY IN THAT AREA.

WHEN I STARTED 11 YEARS AGO, AT OUR CENTER WE WEREN'T MUCH MORE THAN BABYSITTERS, AND THAT LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM HAS GROWN THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIPS AND GRANT MONEY, THE TOBACCO FUNDS THAT THE STATE RECEIVES, AND THERE'S TRAINING AVAILABLE, AND OUR STAFF, THEY NO LONGER LOOK AT THEMSELVES AS BABYSITTERS.

THEY ARE TEACHERS AND THEY ARE REFERRED TO AS TEACHERS.

>> BUT THEY'RE NOT COMPENSATED LOOK A K-12 EDUCATOR.

>> WE HAVE WORKED ON THAT.

I JUST MENTIONED THAT WE HAVE JUST REVISED OUR PAY SCALE.

WE JUST DID HEROS BONUSES FOR OUR STAFF.

AND SO WE'RE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO DO WHAT IS EXPECTED WITH THESE DOLLARS THAT COME IN, BUT IT IS -- RIGHT NOW IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS THE ATTENTION OF THE LEGISLATURE.

IF THERE'S A GOOD THING AS FAR AS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION GOES, CHILD CARE THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC, IT IS THE FACT THAT THE ATTENTION THAT THIS PROBLEM RECEIVED AND THE LEGISLATURE, THERE ARE MANY LEGISLATORS WHO ARE MAKING THIS A PRIORITY, AND I THINK FOR THE SESSION IT WILL BE BECAUSE CHILD CARE, IT'S RELATED TO ALMOST EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF WHAT WE DO AS A STATE, AND IT'S AT THE BASIS OF THAT, AND SO WE HAVE TO DO FUNDAMENTALLY BETTER IN THAT AREA.

SO AS I SAID, THIS IS THE TIME TO BRING ALL THESE IDEAS TOGETHER, TO WORK ON AS AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS, AS A CAREER, AND THEY'RE LOOKED AT AS A PROFESSION, AND THOSE ARE THE STEPS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S EARLY CHILDHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL AND OTHER ENTITIES.

>> AND THAT YOU'RE -- WELL, ALL OF YOU ARE PROBABLY A PART OF THAT COUNCIL IN SOME RESPECT.

I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE SALARY ISSUE, THOUGH, AND HOW YOU PROFESSIONALIZE MORE CHILD CARE INDUSTRY.

IN TERMS OF EVEN CREDENTIALING, WHAT IS REQUIRED AT MINIMUM TO BE A CHILD CARE WORKER IN A LICENSED FACILITY?

>> BEN, CAN YOU ANSWER THAT ONE?

>> I'M HAPPY TO COMMENT ON THAT, AND THERE ARE A FEW OTHER ITEMS THAT I'D LIKE TO TOUCH ON AS WELL.

SO CURRENTLY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INNOVATIVE IDEAS THAT ARE TAKING ROOT.

ONE THROUGH MS. BRENDA HAGAN AT THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE EARLY CHILDHOOD WHO IS DEVELOPING A FIRST IN THE NATION PIPELINE PROGRAM FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS THAT WOULD START VERY YOUNG WHEN THESE STUDENTS ARE STILL HIGH SCHOOL AGE AND STARTING -- >> SO LIKE A PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

>> EXACTLY, AND STARTING TO GROW THAT, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN ISSUE WE ENCOUNTER IN OUR WORK IN OWENSBORO, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTANCES BUT ALSO THE BUSINESSES OF THE CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AS WELL THAT WE KNOW THAT WORKFORCE AND HAVING A STRONG EARLY CHILDHOOD WORKFORCE THAT IS BOTH HIGHAL QUALITY AND COMPENSATED, AND BE RETAINED IS A TERRIBLY, TERRIBLY DIFFICULT ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

JUST A FEW FACTS AND FIGURES.

RIGHT NOW THE MEDIAN HOURLY WAGE FOR A CHILD CARE WORKER IS ONLY $10.19.

AN HOUR.

FRANKLY I COULDN'T COULD MAKE MOYER MONEY AT CHICK-FIL-A AND PROBABLY HAVE A LOT LESS STRESS MAKING $15 AT CHICK-FIL-A VERSUS $10 AT HIGHWAY MY CHILD CARE CENTER.

TO SENATOR CARROLL'S POINT HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB AT HIS FACILITY IN RAISING THE PROFESSIONAL BAR.

THERE ARE CURRENT INITIATIVES UNDERWAY IN FRANKFORT SUCH AS THE ONE THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF EARLY CHILDHOOD THAT'S BUILDING THIS PIPELINE OF HIGH QUALITY EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT FROM 2013 TO 2020, THE NUMBER OF CHILD CARE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN CUT IN HALF.

SO THIS IS A REALTIME ISSUE.

IT RELATES TO PAY.

IT RELATES TO EDUCATION.

IT RELATES TO -- THEY'RE NOT REALLY BEING A CLEAR SET WAY, A CLEAR PATHWAY IN HOW ONE BECOMES AN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR, WHICH I THINK HELPS TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE CONFUSION THAT EVEN SEASONED PROFESSIONALS ON A PROGRAM SUCH AS YOURS HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO THAT PROCESS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THE BROADER WORKFORCE, AND I WAS SING FRISEES SENATOR CARROLL AS HE WAS SPEAKING EARLIER BECAUSE WHAT WE LIKE TO SAY IS THAT CHILD CARE IS THE SMALL BUSINESS THAT SUPPORTS ALL BUSINESS, BOTH SMALL BUSINESSES AND LARGE BUSINESSES ALIKE.

TO PUT IT IN ANOTHER WAY, IT IS THE WORKFORCE BEHIND THE WORKFORCE.

WE KNOW THAT AS RECENTLY AS 2020, AGAIN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, 14% OF KENTUCKY PARENTS QUIT A JOB, DID NOT TAKE A JOB, OR GREATLY CHANGED THEIR WORKING HOURS DUE TO A LACK OF ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HIGH-QUALITY CHILD CARE.

SO WHEN WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE DOLLARS AND CENTS THAT OUR COMMONWEALTH, REGARDLESS OF OUR NATION, IS MISSING OUT BECAUSE WE HAVE FAILED TO CREATE A ROBUST EARLY CHILDHOOD CHILD CARE SYSTEM.

IT BECOMES QUITE TROUBLING IF YOU ARE, LIKE ME AND YOU'RE MORE ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THINGS.

I ALSO WANT TO THROW OUT HUGE KUDOS TO SENATOR CARROLL WHO, OF COURSE, IS A EARLY CHILDHOOD CHILD CARE CHAMPION BUT ALSO SENATOR JULIE RAQUE ADAMS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY AND, OF COURSE, PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS OF CLAY COUNTY IN THAT LAST YEAR WE SAW A POSITIVE STEP IN THE ALLOCATION OF SOME $12 MILLION IN C CAP REIMBURSEMENT.

>> AND THEY'LL CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THAT'S THE SUBSIDY YOU KEEP TALKING ABOUT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'RE HOPING TO SEE MORE OF THAT ACTION AS WE HEAD INTO ANOTHER CRITICAL BUDGET SESSION.

>> AND THAT GOES DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES OR TO PROVIDERS OR TO BOTH?

>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW GOES TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR PROVIDERS SO THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE MORE CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

SO IT'S A TWOFOLD STRUGGLE.

NUMBER ONE, AS WE HAVE HAVE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, IT'S ON THE -- THE SAID, IS ON VERY SHAKY GROUND, SO WE NEED TO INCREASE REIMBURSEMENT TO THOSE PROVIDERS THAT DO TAKE C CAP CHILDREN.

AFTER WE DO THAT, IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO ASK HOW CAN WE RAISE ELIGIBILITY FOR MORE FAMILIES TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE CCAP PROGRAM.

>> WHAT IS IT?

160% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> THAT IS THE THRESHOLD?

>> CORRECT.

IN MY INLAND WOOEST DREAMS I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT AT ABOUT 200% OF FPL, AND THAT THE REASON FOR THAT BEING WE HAVE A GREAT MANY FAMILIES WHO ARE ON THAT BUBBLE, AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT SO THEY CAN LIFT THEMSELVES UP, AND BY INCREASING THE ELIGIBILITY TO 200% FPL, THEY'RE NO GOING TO BE IN THAT BUBBLE MUCH LONGER.

EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO SEE WHERE THEY'RE ABLE TO RAISE THEMSELVES UP, AND EVENTUALLY THE GOAL IS TO HAVE VERY LIMITED NUMBERS OF OUR CITIZENS ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

BUT WE HAVE TO INVEST NOW IN ORDER TO GET THAT OUTCOME LATER ON.

>> WELL, I DID TALK -- ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, THE OPTIONS FOR PROVIDING CARE, AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EMPLOYER-BASED OR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED HEALTH CARE, WHAT CAN THAT LOOK LIKE?

AND SO WE TALKED LAST FRIDAY TO BETH MORTON WHO WAS THE CHILD DETECTIVE HAVE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR FOR BAPTIST HEALTH, LEXINGTON AND HERE'S A PORTION OF OUR DISCUSSION.

>> SO FOR OUR LEXINGTON PROGRAM WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM THE HOSPITAL, BUT AS YOU KNOW, BAPTIST HEALTH HAS BUILDINGS ALL OVER TOWN, BUT WE'RE ABOUT TWO BLOCKS FROM THE MAIN HOSPITAL.

NOW WE DO HAVE PROGRAMS IN LOUISVILLE AND PADUCAH THAT ARE CLOSER TO ON-SITE.

BUT, YEAH, IT'S WAY NOT ONLY FOR US TO PROVIDE QUALITY CHILD CARE BUT IT'S A WAY FOR THE HOSPITAL TO RECRUIT STAFF BECAUSE IF THEY -- THERE'S A SPECIFIC DOCTOR THAT THEY WANT TO COME MAYBE, THEN THAT'S A RECRUITING TOOL FOR THEM, THAT WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, AN EMPLOYEE -- EMPLOYER-SPONSORED CHILD CARE PROGRAM.

>> RIGHT.

AND I DID SAY IT WAS ON-SITE BUT IT'S CLOSE.

>> YES.

TWO BLOCKS AWAY.

>> TWO BLOCKS AWAY.

SO TELL US ABOUT THE NUMBERS.

HOW MANY KIDS?

WHAT'S THE TEACHER-TO-KID RATIO, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS IN.

>> SO OUR PROGRAM RUNS AROUND 112 TO 115 KIDS.

WE HAVE AROUND 30 STAFF.

AND THE RATIO JUST DEPENDS ON THE AGE OF THE CHILDREN.

SO LIKE OUR INFANTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE EIGHT BABIES WITH TWO TEACHERS, SO PRESCHOOL WE MAY HAVE 15 TO 18 QUDS IN A ROOM WITH TWO TEACHERS.

SO IT REALLY JUST DEPENDS ON THE CLASSROOM AND THE TIME OF YEAR.

WE HAVE A PRETTY EXTENSIVE WAIT LIST FOR ALL OF OUR AGE GROUPS, SO WE NEED MORE SPACE.

>> WELL, AND THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT POINT THERE, BETH.

WE KNOW ONE OF THE BIG CHALLENGES IS FOR MANY PEOPLE, IS THAT GETTING ON A WAIT LIST, EVEN MAYBE BEFORE THEY HAVE CHILDREN, JUST ANTICIPATION THAT THEY'RE GOING TO NEED OR IF THEY'RE IN AN ADOPTION PHASE ALREADY WORKING THAT OUT, I MEAN, HOW DO YOU SEE THE SYSTEM ADDRESSING OR NOT ADDRESSING THIS WAITING ISSUE?

>> SO IT'S ESPECIALLY HARD FOR PARENTS OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS BECAUSE THE RATIOS ARE SO MUCH LOWER, AND IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS, LIKE FOR MY PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU DON'T GET IN AS AN INFANT, IT'S HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT YOU WILL GET IN BEFORE THE CHILD IS THREE OR FOUR JUST BECAUSE MY INFANT ROOM FILLS MY ONE-YEAR-OLD CLASSROOM, AND MY ONE-YEAR-OLD ROOM FILLS MY TWO-YEAR-OLD CLASSROOM, SO, YOU KNOW, I KNOW HERE IN LEXINGTON THERE'S A CORE GROUP OF US DIRECTORS THAT WORK TOGETHER AND COMMUNICATE, AND WE HAVE A FACEBOOK PAGE AND WE TRY TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT, LIKE, HEY, WE HAVE A FAMILY THAT'S IN DESPERATE NEED.

DOES ANYONE HAVE CHILD CARE?

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE JUST KIND OF DONE ON OUR OWN.

STATEWIDE, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S REALLY THAT KIND OF SYSTEM, BUT WE DO TRY TO DO THAT AT LEAST HERE LOCALLY TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AND TRY TO HELP FIND FAMILIES CARE.

>> THE COST.

HAVE YOU SEEN THAT CHANGE OVER THE YEARS THAT YOU'VE BEEN IN THIS INDUSTRY?

>> EVERYTHING GOES UP.

SO THE COST OF FOOD GOES UPS.

THE COST OF INSURANCE GOES UP.

BECAUSE WE WANT TO RETAIN STAFF, OUR SALARIES AND BENEFITS GO UP.

I MEAN, EVEN THINGS LIKE CONSTRUCTION PAPER AND PAINT.

LIKE ALL OF THOSE COSTS GO UP.

BUT THERE'S A LIMIT TO WHAT YOU CAN CHARGE FAMILIES PER WEEK, AND SO IT'S DIFFICULT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T -- A LOT OF TIMES IN CHILD CARE YOU CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THE INFLATION OF GOODS WITH THE TUITION BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY CHARGE SO MUCH TO IS THAT IT MARKET.

SO THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR SURE.

>> THE AVERAGE TUITION FOR A CHILD THAT'S ENROLLED AT BAPTIST HEALTH?

>> SO AGAIN DEPENDS ON THE AGE.

BUT IT WOULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $190 A WEEK UP TO ABOUT $214 A WEEK, AND WE'RE KIND OF MIDDLE HAVE THE ROAD FOR LEXINGTON.

THERE ARE SOME PROGRAMS THAT ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN US AND THERE ARE SOME THAT ARE NOT AS EXPENSIVE.

SO WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO BE AFFORDABLE FOR THE STAFF, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE THERE, YOU KNOW, AND THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE MATERIALS AND MAKE SURE THE CHILDREN HAVE THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EMPLOYERS PROVIDING ON-SITE OR CLOSE TO ON-SITE OR SOME TYPE OF EMPLOYER-SPONSORED CHILD CARE, THAT CAN TAKE MANY DIFFERENT FORMS.

>> CORRECT.

>> RIGHT?

AND SO IF YOU CAN TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

>> SO WE DON'T SEE A HUGE ISSUE OR NEED WITH OUR FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO AFFORD THE CHILD CARE, AGAIN, BECAUSE THEY ARE BAPTIST EMPLOYEES, AND SO BAPTIST REALLY TRIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR PEOPLE ARE PAID A DECENT WAGE AND HAVE THOSE TYPES BENEFITS, BUT THERE ARE MANY FAMILIES IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND ALL ACROSS KENTUCKY THAT DO STRUGGLE.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK IN THE CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM THIS YEAR WITH THE STATE COVERING A GREATER AMOUNT OF THE COST FOR FAMILIES, WHICH HAS BEEN BENEFICIAL.

BUT THE MAJORITY OF MY FAMILIES, YOU KNOW, DO NOT REQUIRE SUBSIDY BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO TAKE ON THAT COST.

>> RIGHT.

TALK ABOUT YOUR VIEW OF HOW -- SOCIETY NEEDS TO CHANGE ITS IDEA ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT BEING A PROFESSION AND HOW IT NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED AS AN INDUSTRY.

>> YOU'RE.

SO YOU'RE CORRECT.

SO MOST EARLY CHILDHOOD PROVIDERS ARE NOT MAKING A WAGE ANYWHERE NEAR WHAT LIKE MAYBE A PUBLIC SCHOOL, SECOND GRADE TEACHER WOULD MAKE, BUT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING IS JUST AS VALUABLE AND JUST AS IMPORTANT, SO OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHERS ARE THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE FIRST ONES WITH THOSE CHILDREN, INFANCY AND WHEN THEY'RE TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS.

THEY'RE GETTING THAT BASELINE FOUNDATION FOR LEARNING AND WE'RE REALLY HELPING THEM TO LOVE TO LEARN.

AND SO THEY NEED TO BE PAID MORE.

NOW, HOW WE DO THAT I'M NOT SURE BECAUSE I'VE ALSO SEEN THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, OF WHAT IT COST TO RUN A CHILD CARE CENTER, AND SO I THINK ANY DIRECTOR YOU TALK TO WOULD SAY, WE WANT TO PAY OUR PEOPLE MORE, BUT HOW DO WE DO THAT AND KEEP OUR LIGHTS ON AND KEEP FOOD ON THE TABLE AND KEEP OUR TUITION RATES REASONABLE TO WHERE WE WILL EVEN HAVE CHILDREN HERE?

AND SO I DON'T HAVE A PERFECT ANSWER FOR THAT.

IT'S A NEED, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DEFINITELY NEED TO WORK ON IN KENTUCKY.

>> AND JUST FINAL QUESTION.

BECAUSE BAPTIST HEALTH IS ABLE, BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE AND REVENUE, PERHAPS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE THIS EMPLOYER-SPONSORED CHILD CARE, NOT EVERY MOM AND POP, SMALL BUSINESS IS ABLE TO DO THAT.

I KNOW YOU'VE GIVEN LOTS OF THOUGHT ABOUT HOW -- WHAT AN KIND OF COLLABORATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS COULD BE CREATED TO HELP DO THAT.

>> YEAH, SO I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE MOM AND POP TYPE CHILD CARE CENTERS, LIKE TRY TO PARTNER, SO MAYBE PARTNERING WITH A HOSPITAL OR PARTNERING WITH A LARGER AGENCY AND SAYING, HEY, WE WILL GIVE YOUR STAFF PRIORITY TO COME HERE, YOU KNOW, FOR SOME SORT OF FEE OR THAT YOU PROVIDE X AMOUNT OF DOLLARS FOR MATERIALS.

I DON'T KNOW.

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS YOU COULD DO THAT.

I WOULD SAY IF PROGRAMS WOULD COULD MAKE THOSE CONNECTIONS NOT NECESSARILY WITH HOSPITALS BUT IT COULD BE WITH HOSPITALS, BUT EVEN JUST OTHER LARGER BUSINESSES, I THINK IT COULD BE A WAY THAT'S COULD BRING IN THAT EXTRA REVENUE AND THEN ALSO KEEP THEIR CLASSROOMS FULL.

>> SO A POINT THAT I WANT TO GET TO, WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COST, AND IF YOU DID THE MATH VERY QUICKLY IN YOUR HEAD, SHE'S TALKING ABOUT $12,000 A YEAR.

NOW, THIS IS AN URBAN, LEXINGTON URBAN AREA.

$12,000 ANNUALLY FOR INFANT OR TODDLER CARE, AND SO, MS. CONDOLENCES, I'M LOOKING AT YOU BECAUSE THAT'S COMPETITIVE WITH COLLEGE TUITION.

>> IT IS.

MS. COLLINS.

>> AND THE FEDERAL FAMILY TAX CREDIT, CHILD CARE TAX CAPS THAT AT $5,000 PER FAMILY, NOT PER CHILD, SO I HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN CHILD CARE RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE PAYING -- OUR RATES ARE A LOT LOWER WHERE WE LIVE, AND SO I'M PAYING A LITTLE OVER 12,000 AIDS YEAR FOR BOTH OF MY CHILDREN TO ATTEND, BUT WE ONLY GET TO CAP THAT $5,000 IN OUR HEALTH -- OR IN OUR FLECK ACCOUNT TO HELP PAY TOWARDS THOSE COSTS.

AND IT IS -- THAT IS A COLLEGE PAYMENT THAT I AM PUTTING INTO CHILD CARE EVERY MONTH THAT WE COULD BE PUTTING AWAY FOR THEIR COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL OR WHATEVER THEY DECIDE TO DO.

AND IT'S HARD ON A BUDGET TOO.

AND I BELIEVE SENATOR CARROLL SAID -- I JUST DON'T SEE HOW PARENTS DO IT, AND I'M LIVING IT RIGHT NOW AND IT'S HARD JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, WELL, DO WE HAVE CHILD CARE FOR TODAY?

IS IT COVERED?

THIS WAS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN EVERYTHING WAS SHUT DOWN, AND MY HUSBAND AND I WERE BOTH WORKING FROM HOME, AND SO WHO COULD WATCH THE BABIES WHILE I HAD TO BE ON THIS MEETING AND HOW DO WE KEEP EVERYBODY HEALTHY AND SANE.

AND SO -- BUT THEN NOW IN THE CHILD CARE SETTING IT'S ALSO HAVING TO BUDGET FOR THAT AMOUNT, AND THEN IF COSTS GO UP, THAT'S JUST AN EXTRA BURDEN.

>> RIGHT.

MR. FIELDS, I WANT TO BRING IN YOU HERE QUICKLY BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF TIME TONIGHT AND ASK YOU A GAME GOING TO PARAPHRASE A QUESTION THAT CAME IN FROM JONATHAN JOSEPH FROM LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, AND HE ANDS, WHAT DO YOU END CRITICIZING WAS THE ROLES, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTS, TEACHERS, LEGISLATORS IN OUR COMMUNITIES REGARDING EARLY LEARNING AND CHILD CARE ACCESS?

THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION.

BUT IF YOU HAD SOME ADVICE THAT YOU WANTED TO LEND, IF YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY BEFORE A COMMITTEE IN FRANKFORT AND IT WAS BEFORE SENATOR CARROLL, WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR REQUEST OF HIM?

>> WELL, IT'S ALL OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE OUR CHILDREN GET A GREAT START OFF, A GREAT EARLY START, AND IF WE DON'T FIX IT, AND I'M REALLY ENERGIZED BY THE CONVERSATION, RENEE, AND I'M SO EXCITED TO HEAR FROM SENATOR CARROLL WHEN HE SAYS THAT THIS SYSTEM IS BROKE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED, AND WHAT ENERGIZES ME IS THAT HE AND HIS COLLEAGUES OF THE POWER TO CHANGE IT, AND I'M GLAD THAT WE'VE GOT THE RESOURCES COMING THROUGH THE FEDERAL WINDFALLS, THOSE COVID RELIEF FUNDS GIVE US THIS MOMENT IN OUR HISTORY WHEN WE CAN REALLY MAKE A CHANGE.

BUT I MUST SAY THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PROVIDERS LIKE US HERE IN LOUISVILLE THAT HAVE BEEN STATING THE CASE FOR QUALITY CARE AND HOW TOUGH IT IS LONG BEFORE WE HAD A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

AND SO I'M GLAD WE'RE COMING TO THAT REALIZATION.

BUT I THINK, TO YOUR QUESTION, EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE.

I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR MY COLLEAGUE IN OWENSBORO TALK ABOUT LOCAL NO X-RAYS, WHEN I LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE LOCALLY, CERTAINLY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH FOR US HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT MISSING IN ACTION IN TERMS OF BRINGING SUSTAINABLE FUNDING TO EARLY EDUCATION.

THERE ARE LOCAL NETWORKS HERE THAT WE'RE PART OF, THE READY FOR K ALLIANCE, AND THAT'S WHERE POLICYMAKERS AND PROVIDERS AND PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ARE COMING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

ALL OF US HAVE WORK TO DO.

BUT I SAY, AS WE DO THIS WORK, WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THINGS ALSO THROUGH A RACIAL EQUITY LENS.

IT'S SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE OF THIS -- THE STARK DISPARITIES.

AND I WON'T START NAMING THEM, ALL THE DISPARITIES BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME, BUT I WILL NAME ONE THAT'S REALLY GLARING.

THAT'S THE WEALTH GAP IN AMERICA.

I THINK THAT SAYS ENOUGH TO SAY IF WE DON'T REALLY LOOK AT THE NEEDS OF THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE, ACROSS OUR COUNTRY.

THAT INCLUDES TRENCHES.

AND OTHER MINORITIES, THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE RURAL -- AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHER MINORITIES, THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE, THOSE ARE REAL ISSUES.

BUT JUST TO YOUR QUESTION, THOUGH, IT'S ALL OF OUR PROBLEM.

I'M BLOWN AWAY WHEN I HEAR A STATISTIC THAT I HADN'T BEEN TUNED IN, THAT IT COSTS AS MUCH TO SEND A CHILD TO DAYCARE AS IT DOES TO SEND THEM TO COLLEGE.

>> YES.

>> BUT YET YOU THINK ABOUT THE SYSTEM OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND HOW IT IS STOKED WITH CAPITAL.

SAME WITH K-12.

AND YET THOSE OF US WHO ARE IN THE BUSINESS RUNNING NON-PROFITS, STRUGGLING, RAISING MONEY, WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO GO AFTER EVERY DIME, JUST TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN SO THAT WE CAN PAY A LIVEABLE WAGE BECAUSE WE HISTORICALLY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> I'LL HAVE TO INTERRUPT RIGHT THERE, MR. -- GOOD WORDS TO END ON WITH JUST 30 SECONDS LEFT AND I THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US AND SENATOR CARROLL AND ALL OF YOU, MS. COLLINS AND MR. GIES.

MAIDEN VOYAGE AND WE APPRECIATE YOU BEING ON TONIGHT.

WE HOPE YOU HAVE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND STAY ENGAGED WITH IT.

YOU CAN JOIN BILL BRYANT AND A TEAM OF WORKING JOURNALISTS TO DISCUSS THE WEEK'S NEWS ON "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY" FRIDAY.

SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT MONDAY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EDUCATION ISSUES AS KIDS THINK ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THAT I CAN KELLIE GOOD CARE AND I'LL SEW YOU NEXT MONDAY.