SSTC Launches “Prosperity” Initiative
Smart Start of Transylvania County (SSTC) strives to support all forms of child care in our community, in recognition of the diverse landscape of care options available to families and the importance of choice in early childhood education. We strongly affirm that all families have the right to select a form of child care that both aligns with their values and meets their working needs. While accessibility, flexibility, quality, and affordability are commonly found to be among the most important factors for parents when selecting a child care program, the option that best meets these care standards depends upon the varying and unique needs of each family.
For many families in our community, the child care arrangement that best fits their needs and preferences is having their child(ren) cared for and educated in a part-time care program. These programs are offered in a variety of care settings in Transylvania County, including faith-based care centers and outdoor education programs. While part-day child care programs play an important role in building child care capacity in our community, they often face unique challenges due to their shorter operating hours, which can impact staffing and sustainability. As a step to address some of these obstacles, SSTC is proud to announce the launch of our Prosperity initiative, a wage supplement program specifically targeted towards providers who work for part-day child care programs.
With many providers leaving the early childhood education field in recent years, the successful recruitment and retention of staff members is a challenge across all child care sectors, but can be especially difficult in part-time care settings, with directors unable to offer employees full-time hours. By providing financial assistance to part-time providers in the form of wage supplements, the Prosperity initiative aims to alleviate some of these challenges and improve the financial stability of early educators. This summer, 41 part-time care providers will receive supplement checks, in recognition and gratitude of the vital role they play in supporting local families and nurturing children’s development.
SSTC intends to grow and sustain the Prosperity program going forward, with the intention of helping part-day care centers attract and retain qualified and dedicated professionals. One director of a local part-time care program shared her appreciation of the initiative, stating, “Receiving the Prosperity Wage Supplement is a welcome support. It demonstrates Transylvania County's dedication to early childhood education and recognizes the value provided by part-time and alternative programs in our county. We appreciate the acknowledgment and assistance, as it helps us progress towards sustainability.”
As an organization dedicated to securing access to high quality education for our young children, it is an essential tenet of SSTC’s mission that we value and uplift the important work of all early childhood educators, while striving to eliminate any disparities in compensation within the child care workforce. Ensuring that all providers have access to fairer wages is a vital step in building a child care system that is fair and inclusive. As stated by another local child care director, “Teaching is a calling that comes with many fulfillments, but practitioners are rarely financially compensated appropriately for the effort and energy the job takes. The Prosperity Project stipends go a long way, not only giving teachers a much deserved bonus, but also helping us remember how grateful communities are for us. Thank you for helping our teachers feel supported and appreciated!”
To learn about additional forms of support that SSTC offers to early educators and families, we invite you to visit our organization’s website at https://www.smartstarttransylvania.org/
Written by: Aiyanna Lollis and Published by: The Transylvania Times
