New Child Care Study Launched In Frederick County

It’s expected to address the need for additional child care in the county.Frederick, Md (KM) A study has been launched to determine the need for additional child care in Frederick County. The Division of Family Services along with Parks and Recreation as well the Public Consulting Group will be looking at the accessibility, affordability and quality of child care in the county.The County says this new study builds on the 2024 Child Care Market Study which concentrated on families with young children. This new study will gather additional information on families with children from birth through age 12.  including viable options for expanding child care services to better support underserved communities.County officials say the study will also assess the possibility of a County-sponsored child care service and explore new approaches to addressing the lack of child care. The specific focus will include analyzing the geographic disparities in child care availably, specifically in underserved areas. It will also assess the feasibility of establishing new child care centers, and determining the most strategic locations for creating child care services The study will also engage stakeholders,  such as parents,, providers and community organizations, to make sure there is a wide range of perspectives when it comes to policy recommendations.”Frederick County families continue to struggle with limited child care options, and a shortage of available slots,” says Kelli Goetz, the Director of the Frederick County Division of Family Services.”This study will provide data-driven solutions to expand child care access and support our local workforce,” says Joe Hayden, Deputy Director of Frederick County’s Division of Parks and Recreation.The new study will use surveys, focus groups and interviews to gather information.For more information, go on line to www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/ChildCare.By Kevin McManus