Child Care Biz Help and Together We Grow to host West Virginia church child care webinar

Child Care Biz Help and Together We Grow will host a free Oct. 6 webinar for West Virginia church leaders on whether church facilities and ministries could help expand child care access. The session comes as the state faces a shortage that affects families, employers and local communities.

Why it matters: - West Virginia’s child care shortage affects parents, children, employers, workforce participation and local economic development. - Church facilities and church networks could add child care capacity in communities where families have limited options. - The webinar is designed to help church leaders decide whether child care fits their space, mission and community needs.

What happened: - Child Care Biz Help and Together We Grow are hosting a free webinar for West Virginia church leaders on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. - The session is titled “Could Your Church Help Solve West Virginia’s Child Care Crisis?” - The webinar is open to pastors, executive pastors, church administrators, church boards, children’s ministry leaders and other church and ministry leaders across West Virginia.

The details: - Child Care Biz Help is a national child care consulting firm focused on feasibility, startup planning, operations and long-term sustainability. - Together We Grow is a West Virginia initiative that brings together businesses, educators, government leaders, community organizations, child care professionals and faith communities. - Webinar topics include the child care landscape in West Virginia, why churches may be well-positioned to help, and ways churches can either operate a program or partner with an existing provider. - The session will also cover what is needed for a financially and operationally sustainable child care ministry. - Church leaders will learn first steps for assessing facility fit, community need and mission alignment. - Churches do not need to already run a child care program or have a formal plan to open one in order to participate. - Registration is available through Zoom: Meeting Registration

Between the lines: - Caroline Jens, co-founder of Child Care Biz Help, said child care is a workforce, economic development and community issue. - Jens said many churches have space, relationships and a heart for families that could become part of a broader community solution. - The collaboration reflects a strategy focused on using existing local assets and partnerships instead of relying only on new child care construction. - Together We Grow’s model suggests West Virginia’s child care challenge will likely require coordination across faith communities, employers, educators and public leaders.

What's next: - Church leaders can use the webinar to determine whether their congregation could support a child care ministry or partnership. - The broader effort is aimed at building sustainable child care solutions that can serve families for years to come. - Together We Grow said its community-led work is made possible with funding from One Foundation.

The bottom line: - The webinar is a low-barrier starting point for West Virginia churches to explore whether they can help close the state’s child care gap.