United Way receives funding to support child care for A.L.I.C.E. families

United Way of North Idaho announced July 8 that it has received a $12,000 grant from the Idaho Future Fund via the Idaho Community Foundation.

These funds will support the A.L.I.C.E. Childcare Scholarship Program. The program has been awarding funds to families living below the A.L.I.C.E. (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold for the past five years through pooled funds made up from grants and donations. Those living below the A.L.I.C.E. threshold are hard-working individuals who, despite being employed and taking all the right steps, are one emergency away from financial disaster.

“Child care scholarships are a critical component in the multifaceted approach of our North Idaho Early Learning Collaborative as we address the child care crisis,” UWNI Executive Director Rachel Peterson said in the news release. “We not only seek to meet an immediate need, but to perpetuate long-term change that will benefit our economic infrastructure, benefit employers looking to recruit and retain quality employees, support educational environments that will provide a lifelong lift to children in our community and support small business child care providers.”

UWNI determined that one of the greatest needs of this population is safe, licensed, affordable child care, a hard thing to find everywhere, let alone in the rural areas spread around North Idaho. Scholarships are awarded depending on need, determined by the UWNI scholarship committee, where variables such as family size, cost of housing, annual income and personal narrative is taken into account. This nonprofit's goal is to give families the leg up they may need to keep their jobs, keep their children from losing spots in care facilities and get them through times of emergency financial strain.

This program is made possible by funds given through the Idaho Community Foundation, the city of Coeur d’Alene City Development Black Grant and the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children. The A.L.I.C.E. Childcare Program reduces educational opportunity gaps for children and increases workforce participation among adults by providing financial assistance to families for accessing and maintaining child care.

“Now more than ever, we need to link arms in this work to move the needle permanently for the young families in our community," Peterson said. "We are grateful that Idaho Community Foundation recognizes the need and is partnering in our work through grant funding."