Data-Driven Community Owned Solutions

Through the Our Kids First Initiative, more than 400 families and 40+ community conversations helped us surface the real barriers parents face:

• Mis-matched childcare hours for working shifts 
• High costs forcing families into single-income households 
• A need for trained, trusted providers, especially in neurodivergent-informed care 
• Transportation challenges that keep kids out of available seats 
• A critical gap: 80% of surveyed union families reported barriers to ASD-informed care

Community voices shaped every step of Our Kids First. By gathering working parents, employers, union leaders, childcare providers, and community leaders in the same conversation, we surfaced the real barriers families face and identified solutions that could be acted on right away. This representation ensured that the next activities reflected lived experience, not assumptions.

• 47 community conversations
• 418 participants
• 13 host sites across employers, unions, childcare centers, and community leaders

Understanding Capacity and Gaps.
To design solutions that fit real community needs, Our Kids First conducted site-level assessments with childcare centers and an employer partner. These visits helped identify barriers to expanding care, challenges in serving children with special needs, and opportunities for employer-supported childcare.

• 5 childcare centers assessed 
• 1 employer site (UAW 685) assessed
• Findings informed targeted supports for extended hours, inclusion of children with behavioral needs, and accreditation pathways.

Understanding All Working Parents.
Across all industries and family types, the survey confirmed that childcare gaps cut across sectors and shift types. Families consistently highlighted the need for specialized care and flexibility to match their work demands.

• 59% of families overall reported a need for ASD-informed care.
• Parents in healthcare, manufacturing, and education especially need 2nd shift, 3rd shift, and weekend care.
• Both union and non-union families face similar barriers, underscoring childcare as a universal workforce issue.

Listening to Union Families.
Survey data revealed that union households face some of the steepest barriers to childcare access. Families reported high needs for nontraditional hours of care and, most critically, overwhelming demand for autism- and neurodivergent-informed childcare.

• 76% of union families said they need ASD-informed care.
• Families reported strong needs for early morning, weekend, and overnight care. 
• Commute challenges amplify childcare needs: Union and non-union families alike reported mismatched childcare hours with long or cross-town commutes, leaving parents without reliable options that fit their workday.
• Shift work demands flexible care: Families working early mornings, evenings, weekends, and overnight shifts highlighted how limited childcare availability directly affects their ability to stay employed and on time
• The impact is greatest in manufacturing and skilled trades, where stable childcare directly supports reliable shifts and workforce retention.

From Findings to Action.
Our monthly advisory panel reviewed what families and providers shared during community conversations and site visits. A clear, actionable solution emerged: a one-day training event focused on neurodivergence, classroom de-escalation, and provider self-care.

The Empowering Educators Event brought together schools, childcare centers, youth development programs, and service agencies for shared learning and collaboration.

• 54 total participants (educators, staff, presenters, partners)
• 34 organizations represented across childcare, schools, agencies, and youth development
• Sessions led by clinical and behavioral health experts on neurodiversity, de-escalation, positive behavior supports, and educator self-care
• Professional Development hours awarded to educators and childcare providers
   

This event created space for educators to gain practical tools, foster resilience in classrooms, and connect with one another as part of a broader community solution.

 Building a Local Workforce Pipeline.
Through the OKF Advisory Panel, a public–private partnership was formed between Ivy Tech Community College, local employers, and behavioral health providers. Together, they designed and launched an onsite Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Certificate Prep Course to meet urgent community needs for autism- and behavior-informed childcare.

• Core partners: Ivy Tech, Engaging Minds, Work One, HOPE Behavioral, DSI, Bona Vista, and Mental Health America
• First onsite prep course launched in Howard County with direct input from employers and educators
• Graduates are eligible for stable $42K–$50K/year jobs, strengthening the local economy and expanding specialized childcare capacity

Why It Matters
This initiative directly addresses one of the largest gaps families reported: access to ASD-informed care. By creating a jobs pipeline for behavior technicians, the community not only supports children with special needs but also:

• Expands the pool of trained providers
• Keeps parents in the workforce by ensuring reliable, specialized childcare
• Creates long-term economic resilience through new, stable career opportunities
   

This solution demonstrates how public–private collaboration can transform family challenges into community-wide opportunities.

 Making Childcare Information Accessible.
One of the barriers families identified was the difficulty of finding clear, up-to-date information about available childcare. Providers also noted challenges in getting their services in front of parents.

To address this, Our Kids First launched a centralized childcare access hub — a single webpage where families can view available centers and providers across Howard and Tipton Counties, and where providers can showcase their services in one trusted place.

• 30+ childcare providers listed (centers, preschools, and home-based programs)
• Families can quickly search by provider and location
• Providers gain visibility and connect directly with families in need
   

This hub builds transparency and trust, reduces the time parents spend searching for care, and ensures that childcare solutions are visible, accessible, and equitable for everyone in the community.

As part of Our Kids First, the Institute for Social Public Health awarded 166 professional development certificates across areas critical to family and community resilience. Training focused on neurodivergent-informed education, social cohesion, leadership, and resilience mentorship, equipping educators, providers, and community leaders with tools to better serve local families.

These microcredentials strengthened community capacity, modeled sustainable and community-rooted training pathways, and were provided as an in-kind contribution to support long-term resilience.