child care

Sublette County is test driving a unique way to fund and expand access to childcare as many families in Wyoming grapple with a worsening shortage of daycare centers.

One Teton County provider says the money would help cover rising rent costs — though it’s still a long way off.

A new report shows Wyoming is a fairly average state when it comes to overall child welfare. But the state ranks much worse when it comes to having healthy children.

Two bills have been introduced to the House education committee regarding child care. One would create early childhood development special districts while the second would exempt property tax on child care facilities. Teton County Commissioner Natalia Macker who is a mother of three young children helped draft the bills. Wyoming Public Radio’s Kamila Kudelska spoke with Macker on why it is important to focus on early child care.

A federal program helps send nurses and social workers into the homes of thousands of lower-income or at-risk parents in the Mountain West to help before, during and after a birth. However, its funding is set to lapse at the end of next month. Advocates are asking for reauthorization, pointing to its proven track record of improving prenatal health and readiness for school.

Nevada and New Mexico ranked among the worst in the nation for overall child well-being. Montana, Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming graded in the top half of states, while Utah ranked fourth.

Family Spirit has been in 150 tribal communities across 23 states, with 64 active sites as of the end of July according to a spokesperson from the organization. The program is a 63 lesson curriculum including information on prenatal care and information for kids up to three years old. That program is going away.

During the pandemic, efforts have increased to address the national child care crisis. Several states in the Mountain West are taking steps to reduce the cost of care for low-income families.

Child care is a massive expense in the best of times, but as the pandemic surges across Wyoming, those costs have grown.The Child Care Relief Program will…

Twelve children, many showing mild symptoms or none at all, brought the virus home, infecting at least a dozen more people. One parent ended up in the hospital.