Letter to the editor

The youngest children in the Mat-Su need our help

To the editor:

The youngest children in the Mat-Su need our help! This is also true for children and families across our state. As individuals, organizations, and as citizens of this state - we need to see the challenges that families of young children are facing, and we need to take action! We should do everything possible to help families successfully navigate these earliest years of development when they are building and shaping the foundations for their children's lifetime.

In today's world raising a family usually requires all adults to be in the workforce. This means that in many instances families need help in caring for their children. Some families have extended family support, some utilize child care, and others enroll their children in our local Head Start or Early Head Start program. However recently these systems of support for children and families have been crumbling. One of the largest child care facilities in Palmer, Profiles of Excellence, closed in 2022 after 39 years in business. This summer the Meadow Lakes Head Start Center operated by CCS Early Learning since 1997 will close down and will not re-open. These closures have happened because finding employees to do this work is nearly impossible. The wages are low and the work is hard. However, this work is crucially important. Sadly, if our families with young children have fewer options in Alaska – they will be forced to look at their options outside of Alaska.

Fortunately, many are seeing this crisis and taking action. On April 6, 2023 - Governor Dunleavy announced the creation of the “Governor’s Task Force on Child Care.” This task force has already identified challenges and recommended some solutions. The Governor also has proposed child care tax credits designed to encourage business investment in the sector. The Alaska Legislature just concluded their work – and they have prioritized early childhood as well. Their budget returns the state to making the full 20% match against federal grants coming to Head Start programs. They also increased grants that will go directly to child care providers. All of these actions will certainly contribute to stabilizing the early childhood sector that directly supports families with young children.

We all want Alaskan children and families to be successful and to stay in this beautiful state we call home. Together, by seeing the challenges and taking action to support our youngest Alaskans - we can make it happen!

Mark Lackey,

Wasilla