Donnalee Lozeau and Sarah Vanderhoof

Southern New Hampshire Services (SNHS) is a Community Action Partnership, one of five in NH, operating with a whole family approach to programming and is excited to be part of the statewide efforts to support the early childhood field.

The future of child care in New Hampshire is dependent on innovative thinking and ground-up strategies to develop a field of dedicated early childhood professionals in order to meet the quality, quantity, and qualifications that this critical field demands.

Workforce development, support for continued education, shared opportunities, and early introduction will help lift the field to as it works to deliver the quality learning experiences for children and the care needed by working families.

Those of us in this field and those who depend on these services recognize the role that quality, affordable and accessible child care plays in providing employers with reliable staff. These past two years have brought this need front and center to our employers.

New Hampshire is a small state but one rich in engaged and active individuals and strong partnerships. Since 2020 just shy of $100 million has been invested in sustaining the early childhood sector through the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and just under $30 million will be used to address critical areas of need through the NH American Rescue Plan Action Discretionary Funds (ARPA-D). These funds have supported everything from the basic needs of survival for programs, to the long-term infrastructure and workforce-building strategies.

The ARPA-D plan, along with the response to Senate Bill 446, which seeks sustainable child care opportunities for families and businesses, will continue to serve the long-term need to bolster the early childhood workforce. This work is continually being moved forward by groups such as The Council for Thriving Children, the NH Child Care Advisory Council, UNH Preschool Development Grant, Regional Collaborations, Statewide Family Resource Centers, Child Care Aware® of NH, NH Charitable Foundation, and the Office of Workforce Opportunity to name a few.

We are committed to doing our part to grow the early childhood workforce and to support the efforts of others towards the same goal. We have received support through the DHHS in the form of contracts and funding to bring resources to those in the field or looking to enter the field. These endeavors are further supported through our philanthropic partners, such as the NH Charitable Foundation.

The SNHS-registered Department of Labor (DOL) Early Childhood Apprenticeship program, provides opportunities to bring individuals into the field statewide by several means. It allows for paid work hours, mentor support, and a certificate upon completion. This not only provides hands on learning, but also lets them experience what the job is, while they learn.

SNHS is able to couple this opportunity with another program: T.E.A.C.H. NH early childhood scholarships. This program provides early childhood professionals working in the field statewide the opportunity to further their education, making it affordable and attainable, while working. They work towards earning either a child development associate credential or an associate degree and receive support from the T.E.A.C.H. NH Counselor.

Embedding early childhood programs in a variety of settings allows for shared opportunities and exposes individuals to different career choices while providing hands-on experience. Classrooms in community colleges, such as ours at the Manchester Community College, give students easy access for exposure and formal practicum hours. Less formal, but equally valuable collaborations such as classrooms in high schools, allow high school students an opportunity to volunteer and see firsthand typical child growth and development. Demonstrating it is an attainable career choice.

SNHS knows what the workforce shortage means in this field. When we are not able to provide child care, families are not able to go to work, school, or job training. Our unique combination of programming is perfectly poised to support New Hampshire in regaining an early childhood workforce that will allow children and families to thrive. Together with our workforce programs; (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), On the Job Training (OJT), NH Employment Program (NHEP), Workplace Success, DOL Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program, T.E.A.C.H. NH early Childhood Scholarships) and our Early Childhood Programming (Child Care Aware of NH, Head Start, Early Head Start, Child Care, USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program) and the overall support of our resource centers and family resource specialists, we will be able to do our part to build a better and stronger early childhood support system in our state.

Joining together with child care providers, parents, employers, elected officials, educational institutions, philanthropy and State and Federal departments we can lay the groundwork to keep what we have and build upon it, with our children and families reaping the benefits today and in the future!

Quality, affordable and accessible child care – parents working, children thriving!

Interested in the field, need resources, want to help?

Visit the state’s website: NH-Connections.org.

Donnalee Lozeau is chief executive officer and Sarah Vanderhoof is the child development director for Southern New Hampshire Services.