Forsyth County community leaders convened Friday morning to discuss how businesses can help with the child care crisis.
Families, providers and educators are struggling with the child care system right now.
The cost of care is too high. Wages for teachers are too low. And providers can’t afford to adjust either of those without going under.
Samantha Cole, the child care business liaison for the State Department of Commerce, explained a few ways businesses can help, including taking part in a new program called NC Tri-Share.
“If an employer organization wants to enroll in the program, they commit to covering 33% of the cost of that child care tuition," Cole said. "Their employee who qualifies for the program financially covers the remaining third. And then the state dollars that support this program right now also cover a third.”
She says a 66% cut to child care costs is an attractive benefit.
Businesses could also open a back-up child care site for workers who rely on family or friends to watch their kids, or offer grants to local providers.