In the small city of Waupaca, Wisconsin, a beloved child care provider, Susan Elandt, announced that after eight years, she will be closing the doors to her childcare center, My First Adventure Child Care and Preschool, by the end of August. Elandt has been a pillar of support for many families in the community, offering early morning care for children as parents head to work.
Elandt cited the demanding nature of the job, lack of benefits, and insufficient pay as reasons for her decision to close the center. This decision comes in the midst of a nationwide child care crisis, with the average yearly cost of care rising to $11,582 per child last year. This cost is often higher than rent or mortgage payments for families.
Child care providers like Elandt face challenges in running their centers due to high expenses, including staff salaries. The typical hourly wage for a child care worker in Wisconsin is $13.78, which is lower than what fast food restaurants pay. Despite some relief during the Covid-19 pandemic, federal funding has since expired, leaving providers struggling.
Although Elandt attempted to increase rates for parents to raise staff wages, it was not always enough to retain employees. The closure of her child care center has left families and staff in a state of panic, with Higgins, a teacher at My First Adventure, expressing hope for larger solutions to address the child care crisis.
The city of Waupaca is working to facilitate a sale to keep the facility open, but as of now, My First Adventure is expected to close in July. Elandt and Higgins plan to advocate for better conditions and compensation for child care workers as they transition to new roles in the public school system. They emphasize the importance of recognizing the vital role child care providers play in shaping the future generation.
