The United Way of Greater Nashua recently celebrated the graduation of the most recent class from the Family Childcare Preparation Program. The program, run by the Nashua Smart Start coalition and the Community Engagement Training Center, aims to increase the local supply of childcare workers by providing an online certification with additional support, mentoring, and networking opportunities for participants. In the year since its inception, the program has trained over 100 students who speak English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Swahili.
New Hampshire has been facing a severe shortage of qualified childcare workers, leading to a strain on the economy. About 16,000 Granite Staters were out of the workforce every month between September 2022 and October 2023 due to childcare responsibilities, according to a study from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. The state also has a shortage of approximately 8,300 childcare spots statewide.
Despite cuts in federal funds for health and social services, United Way Director Liz Fitzgerald expressed gratitude to private supporters like the Community Development Finance Authority and the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for their ongoing support. The recent cohort of graduates consists of individuals at various stages in their childcare careers, including those early in their career, switching careers, or already running a daycare. Graduates were encouraged to continue pursuing their passion for childcare and expanding their skillset to achieve their goals, such as opening a daycare business, working in a school, or taking early childhood classes in college.
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