Strengthening Child Care

Overview

Every child deserves a safe and healthy place to grow and learn. Making sure Alaskans can find good care close to home is an important way to support children, adults, businesses, and families - ensuring everyone can thrive.  

Strengthening Child Care across Alaska

• More options, so every family can find safe and high-quality care when they need it 
• Lowering costs to make child care easier to afford and pay for 
• Teaming up businesses and communities to create new solutions 
• Improving our processes, to help child cares across the state run smoothly 

Reports

Child Care Task Force Report 2024

In December 2024, after another series of 14 meetings (January-August 2024), the task force issues its final report. Building on the group’s earlier findings, the report adds 23 new ways to make child care better. New recommendations focus on three areas: making sure Alaskans can easily access child care, ways to keep down costs, and how to keep a high quality of services. In total, the report lists 56 recommendations. 

Child Care Task Force Report 2023

In December 2023, after a series of 14 meetings (June - December 2023) the task force releases its first report. This report lists 33 suggested steps to improve child care. These recommendations focus on: background checks, licenses for child care providers, job training, programs sponsored by employers, and rights for Tribal groups. Ideas include using digital fingerprinting to make background checks faster for remote areas and to make licensing simpler by using online applications. 

Programs & Progress

Child Care Program Office (CCPO) Electronic Forms & Licensing

The Child Care Program Office (CCPO), in the Division of Public Assistance, is updating forms for child care licensing and assistance programs with better online processes, including an online portal for families, parents and providers. CCPO is also working on updating other rules and processes to make lasting improvements for our statewide child care system.

Legislation 

HB 148 took away the $50 per child per month limit on Child Care Development Block Grant funds and increased funding for head start programs. SB 189 updates many child-care-related rules, adds 6.1 million in yearly funds to expand child care, and makes available tax credits for businesses that invest in child care programs. 

Statewide Partnerships 

The Healthy & Equitable Communities team in the Alaska Division of Public Health has led community discussions on child care in places throughout the state including Seldovia, Seward, Valdez, and Kodiak.  These Child Safety & Care meetings and other efforts are helping people, private organizations and communities find ways to work together to support more child care. 

Resources