13-05-2025
Providers rally for funding and support by taking A Day Without Childcare
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WLAX/WEUX)—Childcare providers across the state and country took the day off to rally for more funding and support during A Day Without Childcare. In Wisconsin, the Joint Finance Committee cut $480 million from the Governor's proposed budget, some of which was allocated to childcare services. Providers say 25% of facilities may have to close without that money.
Lawmakers and providers joined together at Julia's Schoolia in Eau Claire to share the need for these services. They say without childcare providers, employees in other fields won't be able to work and that would directly affect employers, families and children. While the battle to secure this funding continues, childcare providers say they're in limbo. Leanne O'Bryan, Executive Director of Rachel's Place Early Learning Center, says, 'It's very stressful. It's very stressful to be a director in this program. We have so many things to do at the center that we need to be taken care of and having to advocate this many days and this often and this hard… (it) takes a lot of time away from the children and the staff.'
Advocates for childcare services say if lawmakers do not promise to reinstate the funding, they will head to the Capitol tomorrow to rally for it.
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