FEBRUARY 2023

Tackling Montana's Workforce Issues, part 3

The Center is continuing our work helping to address Montana's workforce needs. Our workforce development efforts are focused in four areas:

• on-the-job training
• enhancing the workforce environment
• growing a flexible workforce and
• improving cross-system collaboration.

In the third installment of our series on the Center’s efforts and approach to responding to the state's workforce challenges, we are highlighting our work to help grow a flexible workforce. In our current partnership with Montana's Early Childhood Services Bureau, we are helping create eLearning opportunities for early child care providers in Montana to learn about building mental health resiliency.

Supporting Mental Health Resilience Among Child Care Workers

Like many states, Montana struggles to ensure access to affordable child care. The most recent data showed 1,187 state-regulated child care facilities in 2022[1]. Those facilities provided care for 22,931 children under 12 years old [2]. Despite this, the current number of licensed providers only meets 44% of the estimated child care demand [3]. These gaps in child care availability results in parents having to opt out of the labor force (22,6000 in 2021), work part-time (21,500 in 2021), or work reduced hours (53,500 in 2021) [3]. As the state and advocacy groups work towards resolving this ongoing and dynamic challenge, the early childhood provider workforce has become increasingly strained. 

A 2022 Yale Children and Adults Research in Early Education Study Team (Yale CARES) found that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted child care providers' physical and mental health [4]. The study found 67% of child care professionals reported moderate to high-stress levels — almost twice the national average of adults in the US. In addition, 46% of providers screened positive for depression (about 15% higher than the general adult population). 

To increase the mental health support for the child care workforce, the Center partnered with the Montana DPHHS Early Childhood Services Bureau to create a virtual resiliency training. Directors and child care providers at licensed facilities will complete a self-paced 4-part eLearning series that addresses stress, mental health resilience, organizational wellness, and grief and loss. Each module will be followed with a statewide tele-coaching session. These sessions will provide live and engaging opportunities for providers to reinforce learning content, explore case studies, and share statewide expertise.

The training, developed by experts in the field and current child care providers, aims to:

• enhance stress management strategies among child care providers,
•  decrease burnout and improve retention among child care providers, and
• improve relationships with the children and families served. 

To learn more, email Kim Spurzem at [email protected]. 

Don't forget: We're Tracking Montana's Legislative Session

In an ongoing effort to support our state and local partners as they work to navigate the legislative process and address the impact of proposed legislation, the Center is working to track legislation, develop policy briefs, interpret data and disseminate information about relevant issues. Additionally, we are helping equip our partners with tools and strategies to engage with policymakers so legislative efforts reflect the needs of Montana’s communities and result in meaningful improvements to Montana’s health and social systems. Legislation spans various aspects of those systems, including child care, child welfare and behavioral health.

For information on noteworthy bills under consideration this session, visit our website.

References: 

1. The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2023). KIDS COUNT Data Center: State Fiscal Year 2022 Licensed child care facilities by STAR level in Montana. https://datacenter.kidscount.org

2. The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (2023). KIDS COUNT Data Center: State Fiscal Year 2022 Licensed child care capacity by STAR level in Montana. https://datacenter.kidscount.org

3. Montana Department of Labor and Industry. (2022). Impacts of Child Care on the Montana Workforce. [PowerPoint slides]. Presented to Montana Legislature: 2022 Interim Committee. https://leg.mt.gov/content/publications/fiscal/2023-Interim/Jan-2022/MARA-Child-Care-1-27.pdf

4. Elharake, J.A., Shafiq, M., Cobanoglu, A., Malik, A.A., Klotz, M., Humphries, J.E., et al. (2022). Prevalence of Chronic Diseases, Depression, and Stress Among US Childcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Prevention of Chronic Disease 2022;19:220132. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd19.220132  



The Center for Children, Families & Workforce Development partners with the child protection, health, educational, and judicial systems to develop educational and training resources for professionals and caregivers statewide. We also conduct research that focuses on solving problems that impact children and families, and we work to help partnering agencies with capacity building and technical assistance.

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