{"id":6232,"date":"2024-12-15T12:24:53","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T21:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.threadalaska.org\/learn-and-grow\/blog\/pick-click-give-to-thread-and-support-child-care-in-alaska"},"modified":"2024-12-15T12:24:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T21:24:53","slug":"pick-click-give-to-thread-and-support-child-care-in-alaska","status":"publish","type":"learn-and-grow-blog","link":"https:\/\/www.threadalaska.org\/learn-and-grow\/blog\/pick-click-give-to-thread-and-support-child-care-in-alaska","title":{"rendered":"Pick.Click.Give to thread and support child care in Alaska."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Starting January 1st, Alaskans can donate to their favorite charitable organizations while completing their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) application. thread<\/strong> is proud to participate once again in Pick.Click.Give, and we encourage you to consider supporting our efforts to strengthen child care in Alaska. Your contribution helps ensure a brighter future for families, children, and communities across the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Donate directly to thread<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Pick.Click.Give<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Economic Power of Child Care in Alaska<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Child care is more than just a service for young children; it is a cornerstone of Alaska’s economic growth. Early care and education (ECE) services enable nearly 50,000 adults to participate in the workforce, contributing to $4.6 billion in earnings. For families, accessible child care means better job stability and increased income, with single parents seeing an average annual increase of $78,500 (for single mothers) and $89,400 (for single fathers). Families with two parents working experience an average increase of $41,000 in earnings. However, child care accessibility remains a significant challenge. The 2023 Economic Impact Report, a collaboration between thread<\/strong>, McKinley Research, and the State of Alaska, highlights critical barriers such as availability, cost, and quality of services. These challenges prevent many parents from fully participating in the workforce. In fact, over half of families report difficulties securing care, and 51% of families say they cannot work as much as they would like due to child care constraints \u2014 a marked increase from 25% in 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Child Care Workforce Shortage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Despite their crucial role, early childhood educators are among the lowest-paid workers in Alaska, earning an average of $29,500 annually. This low pay leads to high turnover and vacancies, creating instability in child care programs. As the demand for services increases, the supply of licensed child care providers continues to shrink \u2014 by 25% since 2019. This gap in supply and the underpaid workforce exacerbates the challenges families face in finding quality care for their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Call to Action: Supporting Change<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Investing in child care is essential for fostering economic growth and supporting families. By supporting thread <\/strong>through Pick.Click.Give, you help strengthen Alaska’s child care system by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n