UNC Asheville Hosts
2025 WNC LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT
Event Information
March 14, 2025 | UNC Asheville - Blue Ridge Suites
Highsmith Student Union, 1 University Heights, Asheville, NC 28804
Building a Foundation for the Future - Strategies for a Sustainable Childcare Solution in WNC
The WNC Legislative Caucus is hosted annually by the WNC Health Policy Initiative. These events bring together members of the NC General Assembly, individuals working in policy development and advocacy, regional health and healthcare leaders, and community service organizations to learn about key health policy priorities for Western North Carolinians, make connections, and share their own concerns and questions about these issues.
About This Event
Creating a sustainable childcare system (especially one that can provide stable and reliable services in our more predominantly rural Western North Carolina communities) is not just important—it is absolutely essential for keeping our healthcare systems, employers, workforce, educational institutions, and other vital economic drivers functioning. childcare teachers are the workforce behind the workforce, and the foundation-builders for Western North Carolina’s next generation of talent, skills, and leadership.
In the spirit of Pi(e) Day (3.14.25), we’ll be serving up conversations focused on policies and strategies to create a bigger economic pie that everyone can share and benefit from through sustainable long-term investments and solutions in childcare. As our region recovers and rebuilds from the effects of Tropical Storm Helene, we have an unparalleled opportunity to “bake in” the foundations of a sustainable childcare system strong enough to support a stable, growth-poised workforce and a vibrant regional economy ready to usher in a new era of success for Western North Carolina.
Panel 1: WNC Healthcare Workforce Impacts
Maintaining our critical healthcare workforce is vital to ensuring the health, resilience, and productivity of our communities and residents, and to support the ongoing success of some of our region’s large and small employers. Panel members from three of our region’s largest health systems will be on hand to share insights, experiences, bright spots and challenges they’re facing as a result of the ongoing childcare crisis.
Panel 2: WNC Economic Impacts
Western North Carolina’s economic growth and development depend on our region’s capacity to support a stable, agile, productive workforce. Access to affordable, reliable childcare is a critical factor in ensuring that all Western North Carolina residents can find jobs, build careers, support the success of regional businesses and employers, and in all ways contribute to and participate in a vibrant, thriving regional economy. Panel members representing regional Chambers of Commerce and an early childhood education provider/employer will present insights, data, and stories illustrating the impacts of childcare shortages on our workforce and economy.
Event Resources
The Childcare Crunch: How NC’s Childcare Crisis is Putting Families and Businesses Between a Rock and a Hard Place - WNC Health Policy Podcast Ep. 9
This audio feature was produced by WNC HPI’s audio producer Andrew Rainey in conjunction with the Western North Carolina Early Childhood Coalition. In it, Andrew Rainey talks with Greg Borom (WNC Early Childhood Coalition), Susan Rotante (Parent Advocate), Samantha Cole (NC Department of Commerce) and Neil Harrington (NC Child) to explore the past, present and potential future of childcare in Western North Carolina.
Listen at the link above, or via Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Take Care examines North Carolina’s child care crisis through the voices and stories of the state’s families, child care providers and teachers, and business and community leaders. It provides firsthand accounts of how child care impacts everyone, what is at stake if it is not fixed, how communities are trying to address the crisis, and the need to work together to solve the crisis. Take Care was produced by was produced by Neimand Collaborative and SeeBoundless and funded by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Take Care. Learn more at TakeCareNC.com.
Take Care was recently awarded a Platinum Viddy award, an international competition which recognizes outstanding achievement in video and digital production skills.