Tawni Jetter, along with her husband relocated to Anchorage in July of last year after moving from Salt Lake City, and finding childcare was an immediate need. Their realtor suggested that they hire an au pair or live-in nanny that could look after their sons, three years old Calvin as well as 18 months-old Emerson. Jetter claimed that the au pair was for about five months until their nanny hurt her foot and was unable to provide the care they needed for their children.
“So it was that we had our mother-in law come up,” Jetter said. “And she stayed with the boys for a couple of weeks while we scurried trying to figure out how to do regarding childcare.”
Jetter stated that she’s tried everything, including placing her children on waitlists for a dozen direct contact with providers asking everyone and anyone about their day care and if there were opportunities.
“You know, I began becoming a crazed person,” Jetter said, “because I’d go to the supermarket and look looking at me out with a look of a childbearing age. Perhaps she has children perhaps she has a daycare.”
Jetter isn’t alone.
All across Alaska, Alaska families are having an increasingly difficult time finding affordable and accessible childcare. A lot of day cares have shut down because of the epidemic and the wages are low, leading to the departure of many workers. Families have expressed concern that the situation is in crisis. Lack of care is causing many are leaving their jobs, or considering leaving the state, or even putting a significant portion of their earnings towards the cost of care.
Reanne Honemann-Queja is family services manager for thread Alaska which helps families connect to child care services and advocates for early learning. She says finding childcare was always a challenge and the pandemic has strained the already-tense system more. Child care facilities decreased.
“Some have quit their state” the official said. “Some had retired. Others have decided to look for a new job during this period. There has been a drop in employment”
Thread is lobbying for more resources.
There are proposals currently being considered by the Legislature to provide the industry of child care with millions to ensure the retention of workers, however Governor. Mike Dunleavy has expressed disinterest in these suggestions. Instead he made an announcement that last month that he would be forming the task team to examine the state’s problem with child care however, the task force hasn’t yet been formed yet.
As of now, Alaska families continue to be unable to find a suitable caregiver. Honemann-Queja noted that the waiting lists fill up quickly, making it difficult to keep track of.
“My most important advice to women who just found out they’re expecting is to simply enjoy your celebration with your loved ones Then start seeking childcare,” Honemann-Queja said. “Getting placed on waiting lists as quickly when you are able.”
Amanda Dale knows the waitlist game. Her husband and she spent nearly a whole year looking for child care for their son Ethan who is now 3 years old. Dale claimed she logged providers with a spreadsheet, and often there were more than 20 children ahead than her son’s name on the list. After waiting for months and battling, she was overwhelmed when she finally received an appointment in August.
“A lady from the preschool phoned me and told me that we have an open spot in the full-time program for your son’s child and I immediately started tears,” Dale said. “I offered her apologies as if, ‘Gosh! It must be very odd to be crying over this. She responded, ‘Oh that’s not the case, it is a regular thing. It’s like people are so glad to receive a phone call by my phone.'”
Although families such as Dale’s have secured a place, the obstacles don’t end. Because of the tight market for child care, it has become more costly for families. Dale says the couple spend more than $1400 a each month to care for their infant son which is comparable to a mortgage.
“It’s almost a form of punishment,” Dale said. “Yeah we’ve decided to have children… 100 100%. However, that’s the way the world operates. This is how things continue to work. It’s a bit odd to me that we create such a burden for people.”
Today Dale is contemplating the day when her daughter Lina will require childcare as well.
“When we first began enrolling him, we paid two months in advance and there were startup costs. We paid more than $3,000 in the initial month. That is insane,” Dale said. “And at the time she begins, there’s a slight discount that’s great for the siblings however it’s around $2,700 per month.”
Jamie Smith is pregnant, due in October. She’s already having her child put on waitlists and hoping for an opening in the first quarter of next year.
After years of trying to get pregnant, Smith and her husband have decided to try IVF. Tests for blood are showing positive, Smith said, and she along with her husband are beginning to get their house ready for the arrival of a baby. In a way the journey to becoming pregnant prepared them for seeking out day care.
“I think that the stress of infertility has prepared me for the many things that I cannot manage,” Smith said. “We can simply put everything in place and it’s going to knock down the way it’s going to be knocked down.”
But, she added it’s difficult not to think about what they’ll do if can’t find a day care.
“Does my spouse quit their job? Do I quit my job? Can one of us work part-time? “We can only get part-time childcare” Smith said. “And the fact that we do not have a family within the state. Then you must come up with… Well, if there’s no way to find anyone that we can go to. Do we need to relocate and leave the state? You then have to sell the property.”
Although the task of finding a child care provider looms on the horizon of Smith along with her spouse, she’s not lost the excitement of being a mom.
“Experiencing this world from the perspective of a young child and instilling the tools and abilities and attitudes we want to be able to pass on I think it’s going to be very enjoyable,” Smith said.
For certain parents, the ardor to wait for child care space can pay off. Jetter is one of them. Salt Lake City transplant with two boys was able to find a childcare provider earlier this month after one her husband’s colleagues tipped them into an opening. She admitted to feeling somewhat anxious on their first day without their the comforts of home. But she’s optimistic that the worst part of the trip has passed.
“My 3-year-old son He’s doing fine. I can tell he’s very excited about this,” Jetter said. “But my baby knows it hurts Mama’s heart slightly. She did send me some photos and I believe they’re doing fine.”
For other families The search continues.
