Thank you to all who participated in the Redwood County Virtual Child Care Town Hall sessions and contributed ideas to our community Idea Hub. Your insights have helped shape potential strategies to support child care growth and stability across Redwood County. We are now moving into the next phase of the process: community voting! Please take a few minutes to review the ideas in each category and vote for your top two in each. Your input will help us understand which strategies the community feels are the strongest, most feasible, and most aligned with local needs.
Voting is open now through December 5th. After voting closes, we will compile the results and share the top ideas with the Redwood County RCCIP Core Team to help guide next steps and future planning efforts. Thank you for your continued engagement and commitment to strengthening child care options for families, providers, and the early care and education workforce in Redwood County. Your voice truly matters in shaping meaningful, community-driven solutions!
Missed the Virtual Town Hall Sessions? watch the presentation summary here!
Access to child care is not only a concern for families, but the entire community.
The State of Minnesota continues to see a significant decline in childcare centers and in-home childcare providers. Below are resources to highlight the concern.
Looking for Child Care in Redwood County?
Review the list of licensed child care providers from SWHHS.
Why is there a shortage of child care in Greater Minnesota?
Listen to a podcast with Marnie Werner, Director of Research in the Center for Rural Policy and Development.
- Center for Rural Policy and Development: Rural Reality-Child Care Shortage
- Center for Rural Policy and Development: A Quiet Crisis MN Child Care Shortage
- Department of Human Services: Kids Can’t Wait
- Southwest Regional Gap Analysis
- Greater Minnesota’s Child Care Center Wage and Rate Survey Results
- Department of Human Services: Status of Child Care in MN 2019
- Parent Aware: Licensing Programs
- Grady Holtberg, Redwood County Economic Development Coordinator
(507) 637-1122
[email protected] - Melanie Guetter, Southwest Health Human Services Licensing Social Worker
(507) 637-6113
[email protected] - Kara Kuehn, Center for Inclusive Child Care Relationship-Based Professional Development Specialist
(651) 497-4252
[email protected] - Karen DeBoer, Child Care Aware Regional Coordinator
(507) 376-4195
[email protected] - Jessica Beyer, First Children's Finance
(320) 808-7066
[email protected]
Interested in Learning More?
Reach out to Grady, Economic Development Coordinator to discuss your needs and what programs may serve your organization.