Childcare Task Force Recommendations
The Board approved recommendations developed by the Kent County Childcare Task Force, which was established in 2024 to evaluate childcare challenges, explore strategies and funding opportunities and develop recommendations based on data and research. The Task Force brought together parents, childcare professionals, business and economic development leaders, philanthropic organizations and other community voices to better understand the challenges facing families, providers and employers.
The recommendations focus on four key areas:
-
Improving affordability through advocacy for programs and policies that can help reduce childcare costs for families.
-
Expanding the supply of childcare by reducing barriers to building childcare facilities and improving family, employer and provider access to information.
-
Strengthening the childcare workforce through education incentives and advocacy for State initiatives that improve wages and benefits.
-
Maintaining County involvement to monitor changing needs, opportunities and progress.
The need is significant. In 2024, Kent County had an estimated 52,323 children ages 0–5 and 31,863 licensed childcare slots. However, workforce shortages mean the number of licensed slots can overstate the number of spaces actually available, particularly for infants and toddlers.
The childcare shortage also affects the broader economy. Sixty-five percent of Kent County employers surveyed reported negative business impacts from childcare challenges, while 86% said those challenges make it more difficult to hire and retain workers.
“Access to quality, affordable childcare is essential to the strength of our families, our workforce and our economy,” said Jennifer James, Kent County Deputy Administrator. “The Childcare Task Force brought together voices from across our community to identify opportunities for Kent County to collaborate with partners and to support families and childcare professionals.”
The Task Force recommends a phased, four-year approach that allows the County to monitor progress and adjust its efforts over time. Initial priorities include increasing employer participation in Tri-Share, a public-private partnership that divides licensed child care costs among employers, employees and the state; removing barriers for families applying for Child Development and Care Scholarships; and developing a legislative advocacy plan to support state initiatives. These initiatives include a new tax-free child care savings plan, the Early Childhood Educator Wage Sustainability Initiative and the Nurture Benefits Pilot for early childhood educators.
Additional recommendations include exploring partnerships and funding opportunities to expand childcare facilities and support education and professional development for early childhood educators.
Strategic Investment of Opioid Settlement Funds
The Board also approved a Fiscal Year 2027-2028 spending plan for opioid settlement funds awarded to Kent County. The plan builds on the County’s initial two-year spending plan, approved in 2024, and provides a framework for investments designed to prevent substance use and overdoses, reduce harm, educate and support people with substance use disorder, and improve access to treatment and recovery services.
Among the FY2027-2028 priorities are:
-
Expanding recovery coaching services to help people at high risk of overdose connect with and remain engaged in treatment and recovery.
-
Supporting jail-based treatment programs to help address the heightened risk of overdose for individuals following release from incarceration.
-
Expanding access to naloxone and other harm-reduction resources, giving community members tools that can help prevent fatal overdoses.
Kent County is expected to receive approximately $19.1 million in opioid settlement payments through 2038 and has received $8.2 million to date, providing an opportunity to sustain and build upon this work in the years ahead.
The plan supports work already underway through the Kent County Opioid Task Force, a partnership of public health professionals, treatment and recovery providers, law enforcement, harm-reduction advocates and community organizations. The Task Force works to reduce stigma, raise awareness, prevent overdoses and improve access to treatment and recovery services.
“The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on families and communities across Kent County, and the long-term planning for these settlement funds gives us an important opportunity to strengthen the work already underway,” said Sydney Resler, Epidemiologist at the Kent County Health Department. “By investing in prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery, we can help save lives, connect people to the support they need and build a stronger, more coordinated response to this ongoing crisis.”
To learn more, review the opioid settlement spending plan and the Childcare Task Force recommendations on Kent County’s website.
