Childcare/Pre-K
Utah families face significant challenges navigating the childcare landscape with issues related to accessibility, affordability, and quality complicating the very personal and critical decisions families face. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has identified a ‘market failure’ in the childcare sector, indicating a disconnect between the current services and what’s in the best interest of children and families. The child care industry operates as a private market where the cost for both consumers and childcare business owners limits the system's ability to support families. Additionally, those who work in child care often do not earn a living age. A Bolder Way Forward Childcare/Pre-K spoke leaders, affiliates, and partners will work together to improve access to affordable, high quality childcare to ensure the long-term health and prosperity of Utah children, families and the state.
Spoke Leaders
Jill Koziol
Co-Founder & CEO, Motherly
LinkedIn Profile
Jill Koziol is the co-founder and CEO of Motherly, the leading digital destination empowering mothers to thrive. Jill is a sought-after speaker, author, and board member. She’s a champion for women's leadership and an advocate for families.
Elizabeth Garbe
VP of Public Policy, UW SL
LinkedIn Profile
Elizabeth Garbe is the Vice President of Public Policy for the United Way of Salt Lake and is a passionate advocate for children and families in Utah. She has worked to pass legislation in education, health, and financial stability, with a strong focus on early childhood education.
Bold Vision & Goals
To make Utah a place where more girls and women can thrive, the Childcare/Pre-K spoke leaders and partners have crafted the vision and goals below. Spoke leadership and UWLP team members are currently working to collect baseline data that will assist in adding numbers to the changes we want to see by 2026 and 2030.
Vision: Ensure that affordable, quality childcare is available for all Utah families who need it.Goals:
- By 2026, reduce the percentage of Utah families spending more than 10% of their income on childcare by 25%. [Metric]
- By 2026, reduce the gap between childcare need and regulated childcare of children under 6 needing childcare. [Metric]
- By 2026, increase the number of child care programs with a High Quality or High Quality Plus Rating by 20%. [Metric]
- By 2026, increase the percentage of annual survey respondents that Agree or Strongly Agree that child care and Pre-K are essential components of a child’s lifelong learning by 20% from the 2023 baseline.
- By 2026, increase the percentage of annual survey respondents that Agree or Strongly Agree that the government has a responsibility to address child care challenges by 20% from the 2023 baseline.
- By 2026, increase the percentage of annual survey respondents that Agree or Strongly Agree that access to child care is an issue that families face in Utah by 20% from the 2023 baseline.
- By 2026, increase the percentage of annual survey respondents that Agree or Strongly Agree that child care providers are professionals by 20% from the 2023 baseline.
Partners
Get Engaged: Ways to get engaged include inviting Childcare Spoke Leaders to speak to your organization about childcare issues and family-friendly workplace policies; volunteering to become a “Model Business” and commit to implementing childcare support and other family-friendly policies; providing funding for technology and business coaching to bolster women-owned childcare businesses in Utah; joining our monthly Care for Kids Network calls; and becoming involved in a working group within the Childcare Spoke. Thank you for your interest!
Camie Hodlmair
Spoke Coordinator
LinkedIn Profile
ABolderWayForward.
Childcare@gmail.com