Growing Child Care Opportunities in the Siuslaw Region

Siuslaw Vision has been working to expand child care opportunities in west Lane County since 2022 by providing technical assistance, access to training, community engagement, and start-up support. We provide services to both existing child care providers to help them expand their businesses, and to potential new providers to help them launch their business. Services include: marketing and a business attraction campaign to reach potential new providers; community engagement to support the local child care industry and retain existing providers; and assisting providers to access required trainings and certifications.

The project is managed by Siuslaw Vision staff, Lindsey Phillips, and a contracted AmeriCorps RARE member, Abby Harrison, with community support provided by an established Child Care Working Group, and in partnership with Onward Eugene’s Lane County Child Care Sector Strategist, and Quality Care Connections/Lane Community College.

The Siuslaw region of west Lane County is desperately short of needed child care. Recent Census data show there are about 640 children ages 0-5 in our area. Currently, we have about 114 child care slots for this age group; of those, only 69 are licensed and provide full-day care. We have no child care centers for kids under age 3. Lack of child care reduces business attraction and retention and limits our workforce. Worker shortages impact health care, education, hospitality, and every one of our local industries.

If you’re interested in getting involved or learning more, please email childcare@siuslawvision.org.

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