National Day Without Childcare

Monday, March 3 marks the fourth annual National Day Without Childcare. Several area providers participated, and many community leaders (pictured) attended the “Rochester Rally” to advocate for the important work being done in the child care industry.

______________

The Post Bulletin wrote a great article on this day and its importance, and you can read the full article on their website:

ROCHESTER — More than half a dozen Southeast Minnesota child care providers will be taking part in an annual day of advocacy Monday, March 3, 2025.

The annual National Day Without Childcare was established to help demonstrate the important role child care services play in day-to-day life. However, not all the child care providers participating will be closed per se — this year.

Although the day was established nationally four years ago to be disruptive and demonstrate how many essential workers rely on child care, Jacqueline Benoit-Petrich, executive director of the Civic League Day Nursery, said she doesn’t want to leave her families without service on short notice and will remain open.

“My families would be like, ‘What am I going to do?’” Benoit-Petrich said.

ISAIAH through its Kids Count On Us program is coordinating the Minnesota effort. More than 500 Minnesota child care organizations and center are participating Monday. About 100 Minnesota centers will be closed for the day.

However, lessons the public learned during COVID seem to be dimming, she said. Child care funding was dropped from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Grants and emergency funding passed during COVID to help essential workers get to work have dried up.