Department of Workforce Development

Monday, August 20, 2001 Governor Scott McCallum Secretary Jennifer Reinert

News Media Contact Teresa Weidemann-Smith 608/266-3999 e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us fax: 608/266-1784

Grants Help Employers Attract and Retain Employees

MADISON -- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) recently provided $30,000 for Child care Employer Outreach Grants. Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) Agencies in Wisconsin received the grants to assist businesses in conducting needs assessments and determining what child care supports work best for employers in attracting and retaining quality employees.

"Research and employer testimonials indicate that child care investments enhance an employer’s ability to recruit and retain employees, lower turnover rates, increase productivity and strengthen community relations," said DWD Secretary Jennifer Reinert. "DWD is committed to providing a variety of resources to employers in an effort to further strengthen the workforce and provide quality child care, as well as other options, for working families in the state."

With this pilot project, the CCR&R agencies will develop new services or enhance existing employer services by:

• Conducting outreach activities to help employers understand the importance of child care, the range of solutions they can implement, and the benefits to their companies;

• Assisting employers in meeting labor shortage needs and in improving retention rates;

• Removing child care barriers to employment for low-income families;

• Partnering with area Job Centers to identify employers and business contacts to whom they might target outreach activities;
• Conducting employee needs assessments and analyzing the results to provide employers with a clear sense of their workforce’s child care needs; and
• Providing information to employers about what child care services and resources exist to meet their employees’ needs.

Grant recipients and amounts include: Child Care Connection, Inc., Wausau; Child Care Partnership Resource and Referral Center, Eau Claire; 4C Community Coordinated Child Care, Inc., Milwaukee; and Family Resources, Inc., La Crosse each received a $5,000 grant and the Wisconsin Child Care Resource and Referral Network, a statewide facility based in Madison, received a $10,000 grant to develop support services to assist employers and CCR&R’s in conducting needs assessments and creating child care retention models.

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