There is a shortage of childcare workers in New Hampshire, and the state is hoping to help. Retirements during the pandemic and not enough people entering the field are leaving many businesses short-staffed. Discovery Child Enrichment Center in Portsmouth is a big operation at full capacity. They are allowed to have 149 kids in daily, with a full staff of 30.Right now, owner Shelley Vetter says they are short six full-time workers and three part-timers, so they can only handle 75 kids per day.“It’s a huge problem,” Vetter said. “It’s basically controlling the center and how it runs, whether I have to close some of the classrooms down.”The Department of Health and Human Services hopes to help with the Child Care Strengthening Plan by offering scholarships and grants to businesses.Deputy Director of Economic and Housing Stability Marti Ilg said they are working on recruitment and retention of the childcare workforce.“We are working with businesses themselves, many of whom are interested in opening childcare which is kind of a cool idea,” Ilg said. “We are interested in expanding opportunities for child care in people’s homes and connecting them with regional networks.”The goal of the program is long term stability for childcare in New Hampshire.“And there other jobs including HR, bus driver, book keeper, so there’s lots of choices,” Ilg said.“We received grants over the last couple of years, which has been fantastic, it helped us stay open,” Vetter said. “But I’m not sure, how this new system they are talking about, is going to help me now.”Vetter said child care work does not pay well and is a very hard job, both of which lead to the shortage of workers right now.The Child Care Strengthening Plan builds upon the third phase of the state’s initiatives to support the child care sector, funded through American Rescue Plan Discretionary Funds, totaling $29 million.
There is a shortage of childcare workers in New Hampshire, and the state is hoping to help.
Retirements during the pandemic and not enough people entering the field are leaving many businesses short-staffed.
Discovery Child Enrichment Center in Portsmouth is a big operation at full capacity. They are allowed to have 149 kids in daily, with a full staff of 30.
Right now, owner Shelley Vetter says they are short six full-time workers and three part-timers, so they can only handle 75 kids per day.
“It’s a huge problem,” Vetter said. “It’s basically controlling the center and how it runs, whether I have to close some of the classrooms down.”
The Department of Health and Human Services hopes to help with the Child Care Strengthening Plan by offering scholarships and grants to businesses.
Deputy Director of Economic and Housing Stability Marti Ilg said they are working on recruitment and retention of the childcare workforce.
“We are working with businesses themselves, many of whom are interested in opening childcare which is kind of a cool idea,” Ilg said. “We are interested in expanding opportunities for child care in people’s homes and connecting them with regional networks.”
The goal of the program is long term stability for childcare in New Hampshire.
“And there other jobs including HR, bus driver, book keeper, so there’s lots of choices,” Ilg said.
“We received grants over the last couple of years, which has been fantastic, it helped us stay open,” Vetter said. “But I’m not sure, how this new system they are talking about, is going to help me now.”
Vetter said child care work does not pay well and is a very hard job, both of which lead to the shortage of workers right now.
The Child Care Strengthening Plan builds upon the third phase of the state’s initiatives to support the child care sector, funded through American Rescue Plan Discretionary Funds, totaling $29 million.
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