UNC Asheville’s WNC Health Policy Initiative Hosts Legislative Summit on Childcare Crisis in Western North Carolina
On Friday, March 14th, 2025, the WNC Health Policy Initiative (a project of the NC Center for Health and Wellness at UNC Asheville), in partnership with the WNC Early Childhood Coalition, YMCA of WNC, and Verner Center for Early Learning, hosted a legislative summit on the University’s campus to highlight the importance of developing long-term, sustainable investments and solutions in childcare, both for our region and across the state.
Building a Foundation for the Future - Strategies for a Sustainable Childcare Solution in WNC
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Western North Carolina faces not only the physical and economic challenges of recovery, but also the pressing need for a renewed focus on the state’s already strained early childhood education infrastructure. Childcare teachers are the workforce behind the workforce, enabling families to return to work, businesses to reopen, and vital services to resume. As communities rebuild, it is essential that legislators prioritize policies that strengthen childcare resources to support families’ and businesses’ recovery in Western North Carolina and ensure statewide economic stability and growth.
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
North Carolina is facing a childcare crisis, with limited access, high costs, and workforce shortages impacting families and the economy. NC's childcare gap contributes to a $5 billion annual economic loss, affecting workforce participation and local revenue. Solutions like stabilization grants and public-private partnerships are helping, but long-term investment is needed for sustainable results.