Creating Child Care Solutions

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There is a special kind of relief a parent feels when they have safe and reliable child care for their children.

“I’ve seen the remarkable difference access to child care makes for families,” said John Randolph, CEO of Harmony Homes, an assisted living community in Durham.

As an employer, John sees the struggles working parents face when it comes to accessing child care. It impacts their ability to come to work and be fully present at work.

So, John decided to include space for a child care center in the design of a new building, which included office space and affordable apartments on the grounds of their facility.

“The space was intentionally designed so that families could have safe, convenient child care right where they work and live,” John said.

Lack of Child Care Limiting Our Economy

Lack of access to child care is a persistent challenge that impacts New Hampshire families, employers, and our overall economy.

According to research conducted by the NH Fiscal Policy Institute, child care shortages cost the New Hampshire economy an estimated $56 million annually.

“In a time when we are trying to recruit talent, child care is up at the top of the list, right after housing, as a key concern,” John said.

A Place to Grow at Harmony Place

After several attempts to open the new child care facility, John sought expertise from Jen Legere, CEO of A Place to Grow, a center-based child-care provider based in Brentwood. With Jen’s help, the Harmony Place child care center opened within a matter of weeks.  

“As an employer, we benefit from improved attendance, lower stress, and a more stable workforce,” John said.

John’s employees can come to work knowing their children are nearby and receiving high-quality care, which enables them to focus on their work.

Access to affordable housing has helped Jen retain child care teachers. With staff living onsite, families can rely on the center to be open regardless of weather.

“It’s a win-win for both of our businesses and our employees,” Jen said.

Child Care for Care Givers at Dartmouth Health  

“We can’t deliver on our mission to care for patients if safe, reliable child care is not available to our workforce,” said Carolyn Isabelle, system vice president of Talent and Career Development at Dartmouth Health. Carolyn oversees child care and housing programs as two areas that impact the hiring and retention of Dartmouth Health’s workforce.

Dartmouth Health currently operates five child care centers, which provide around 300 spots for employees’ children. Four of the centers are in New Hampshire, with locations at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, New London Hospital, Cheshire Medical Center, and downtown Lebanon.

In addition, Dartmouth Health partners closely with the Early Care and Education Association in the Upper Valley to support the delivery and expansion of the Career Cultivator training program for early childhood educators.

“There is real synergy that comes with partnership,” Carolyn said. “The more we can do collectively, the better.”

Partnering to Create Community Solutions

Through their partnership at Harmony Place, John and Jen have created a successful child care model that can be replicated.

“We hope it inspires more forward-thinking employers in the state,” John said.

“Our staff can have lunch with their children and then go back to work. It’s a remarkable thing,” John said. “And knowing they can drop in at any time gives them peace of mind.”

Jen sees opportunity for smaller child care centers to fill infrastructure gaps across the state. She says there is potential for collaboration between communities and employers to create child care opportunities where people live and work.

“There is some rethinking that communities need to do to create the child care that is needed,” Jen said. “They can be small. Businesses have space. The small projects are most feasible for many communities and employers.”

Expanding Opportunity for Child Care Will Help Us Thrive  

Our shared economic prosperity depends on the ability to create more opportunities for New Hampshire families to access affordable child care close to where they live and work. With creative thinking and a spirit of collaboration, we can create the conditions that support solutions. Together, we can build a strong child care system and foster greater economic vibrancy that will enable New Hampshire children, families, and communities to thrive.

--AnnMarie French for NH Possible

 Photo courtesy of GSD Communities. 

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