Frederick, Md.– The Frederick County Office for Children and Families invites residents whose children are too young for kindergarten (ages 0-5) to take a brief survey on child care needs.
This survey is part of an ongoing Child Care Market Study that aims to understand child care supply and demand in the context of community member values and experiences. The survey launched April 29th to coincide with the 33rd Annual Children’s Festival.
“The long-term economic success of our County depends on a healthy, skilled, and reliable workforce, which includes all members of our community. Developing and sustaining this workforce depends on child care,” said County Executive Jessica Fitzwater. “Decades of science have shown us that high-quality child care promotes positive development—building healthy brains for lifelong learning and well-being.”
The family survey is available online in English and Spanish. The links are:
https://www.research.net/r/FrederickCoFamilySurvey (English)
https://www.research.net/r/FrederickCoEncuestaFamiliar (Spanish)
The results of the survey will help the County identify family needs and invest in innovative strategies to improve child care access.
Public Policy Associates, in partnership with Solomon Evaluation, is conducting the Child Care Market Study. Beyond the family survey, the research plan includes a provider survey, focus groups, interviews, community meetings, and analysis of existing data from a variety of sources. Funded by a County’s American Rescue Plan Act grant, the Office for Children and Families leads the project and receives guidance and input from the Child Care Advisory Group with organizational partners from the Interagency Early Childhood Committee, Maryland State Department of Education Office for Child Care, Frederick County Office of Economic Development and the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development, as well as the Community Advisory Board that includes resident parents and early childhood professionals.
For more information about the project and updates on community engagement opportunities, see http://www.publicpolicy.com/FrederickCoStudy.
###