Prominent Utah Foundations and Businesses Join Community Partners in Calling for More Public Investment in Utah’s Child Care System
Utah community luminaries – including the George S. and Dolores Doré Eccles Foundation and Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Foundation – are signatories to an open letter (document attached) calling upon elected officials to take bold action to address Utah’s ongoing child care crisis, released today by local non-profit organizations Neighborhood House and Voices for Utah Children.
“Investing in a robust, high-quality childcare system and creating in-state infrastructure, is one of the best investments we can make for our children, and our state,” according to the open letter’s dozens of signatories.
Multiple legislative proposals have been made to address the urgent needs of the thousands of Utah families who rely on childcare in order to participate in the state’s workforce. As of this date, none of these proposals have had a public hearing before the state legislature.
“Without government investment,” states the letter, “families are left with low-quality options that endanger children, and disincentivize providers. We are calling on the Utah Legislature to invest more dollars into the childcare industry.”
The open letter is currently posted on the websites of Neighborhood House, a longtime community service organization that offers childcare to low-income families, and Voices for Utah Children, a non-partisan policy advocacy organization committed to the wellbeing of all Utah children.
“Let us come together, across sectors, to recognize our shared responsibility to Utah’s families and commitment to a strong and healthy economy.”
Utah family foundations, Utah-based and -owned businesses, community organizations and individual community members are encouraged to add their names to the letter. A link to do so is available on both websites, and can be accessed directly here, as well.
