Pueblo child care program making improvements to address the shortage
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - Pueblo has been undergoing a childcare shortage for several years.
The director of Children First, Angie Shehorn, said the COVID-19 pandemic made the childcare shortage worse. However, she said her team is working hard to help meet the need.
Children First is a childcare resource and referral agency for 11 counties in southeast Colorado, including Pueblo County. They help families find childcare that best meets a family's needs.
In 2021, the city granted the agency $150,000 to help improve and expand its child care referral system.
On Monday, Children's First presented a presentation to the city council to show their progress.
Before the pandemic, Sherhorn said there were 164 licensed child care programs before the pandemic hit. Now, Sherhorn said they're down 42. The good news is 20 programs are in the process of receiving their licenses.
Sherdon said Pueblo County is getting closer to where they were before the pandemic hit.
However, despite some progress, Sherhorn said Pueblo County is still a "child care desert," which means Pueblo County has more children who need child care than seats available.
Left-over COVID-19 relief funding (ARPPA) helped fund pre-licensing classes for people looking to open up a child care facility. Every even month Children's First teach's a pre-licensing class. This class is required to open up a child care home.
"We're able to scholarship the cost of that for people who live in Pueblo. This month's class series, the first one is tonight and we have nine participants," said Shehorn.
All people looking to create a childcare facility out of their homes were having to pay $500 to the city for a zoning fee. Recently, the city brought that fee down to $0 to help make it easier for people to open their homes to children.
"So that barrier has been removed," said Shehorn.
Now, Children's First is working with Pueblo County to eliminate zoning costs for child care providers who live outside of city limits.
Shehorn said she's constantly filling seats for families in need of child care. She said the number of seats available is constantly changing.
If you need child care or want to provide child care in Pueblo County, click here.
