INPUT NEEDED ON CHILD CARE IN CHEROKEE COUNTY
CHEROKEE, Iowa – Thanks to a Center for Rural Revitalization Empower Rural Iowa Grant and a matching contribution from Cherokee Regional Medical Center (Cherokee Regional), First Children’s Finance (FCF) has been contracted to assess the childcare needs within Cherokee County. The study will include research and analysis on: the needs of local families and children, the current supply of regulated child care, parents’ current and preferred child care choices, effects on employers caused by lack of child care, and child care providers’ challenges operating. The report will include the key findings of the research and analysis, including a child care gap analysis quantifying how many children likely need care versus the number of spaces available.
The research being conducted by FCF includes a survey of parents that are currently using child care in Cherokee County or want to use child care in Cherokee, to learn about their child care preferences along with child care challenges they may be facing. The survey for parents can be accessed online through September 30, 2023 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CherokeeParents.
In addition, Cherokee county employers and child care providers are invited to participate in surveys specific to them to provide insight into the current child care supply and how it is affecting them.
Employers please use the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CherokeeEmployers
Child Care providers please use the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CherokeeProviders
Kent Lundquist, VP of Development & Support Services at Cherokee Regional, and grant writer for this project, explains why it is important for all Cherokee county parents, employers and child care providers to participate in the anonymous survey before September 30th.
“Before applying for the Rural Child Care Market Study Grant it was determined that there had never been a formal study, to our knowledge, to assess the child care needs within Cherokee county,” states Lundquist. “This survey process will provide valuable information in regard to the state of child care within the county from various perspectives, and help the project steering committee to develop an action plan to address
the challenges discovered through the child care market study.
If you have questions or would like more information about this project, contact Kent Lundquist, Cherokee Regional at klundquist@cherokeermc.org or 712.225.3368 ext.2202.
About Cherokee Regional Medical Center
A leader in rural healthcare for over 100 years, Cherokee Regional Medical Center (Cherokee Regional) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit health care organization with a mission to provide seamless, quality health care services to its communities. Services include a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital; 24-hour Emergency Medical Services; regional medical clinics in Cherokee, Aurelia, Holstein and Marcus; The Beck, a 32-unit independent senior living complex; home health/hospice services; retail pharmacies in Cherokee and Holstein; Cherokee County Public Health; and the Cherokee Fitness Center. Cherokee Regional is your place for exceptional care. For more information, visit www.cherokeermc.org.
