Sustaining Hoosier Communities supports Daviess County in addressing childcare shortage

A shortage felt across the county

In 2024, Daviess County had just 824 available childcare spots for a potential 1,320 young children in need of care, according to Transform Consulting Group’s findings highlighted in a final report from Kyla Cox Deckard’s Political and Civic Engagement (PACE) Leadership and Public Policy course taught through the IU College of Arts and Sciences.

Seventeen of the county’s 21 licensed childcare providers were in the city of Washington, which accounts for just over a third of the county’s population. Only two facilities were rated as high quality, and none were open overnight, on weekends, or after 7 p.m., creating a significant barrier for parents who work nontraditional hours.

The shortage has far-reaching effects. Single parents with one child in Daviess County can spend about 30 percent of their income on childcare. The county loses an estimated $7 million annually due to employee turnover and absences related to the lack of childcare, contributing to a $1.17 billion annual loss in tax revenue for Indiana’s economy due to childcare issues.

Learning through partnership

Getz said her courses emphasize hands-on learning and building local capacity so that community partners can continue the work beyond IU’s involvement.

“One of the things that's most important is that we get our students out to engage with youth and not just talk about engaging with youth,” she said.

Megan Kwaiser, a senior studying exercise science and youth development, said it was important to approach the community as an ally and partner.

“It was about asking, ‘How can we help you, and what can we learn from you?’ They already had passion. What they needed were resources and tools,” Kwaiser said.

During the course, Kwaiser worked with community partners to develop sensory rooms to help children regulate emotions, an experience she plans to carry into her future career as a pediatric occupational therapist.

“It showed me how important community buy-in is,” she said.

Laureli Hendrix, majoring in youth development, continues to collaborate with the YMCA on trauma training beyond her time in Getz’s class.

“Dr. Deb and I are still working on that, and that's something that we’re going to the community and working with,” she said. “It made me realize that I could make an impact, even at a college-student level. It just made me more excited to be in the professional level making a difference.”

The student projects contributed to the ongoing work of the Daviess County childcare coalition, which brings together the Daviess County Community Foundation, the YMCA, Washington Community Schools, and other partners to coordinate childcare and youth programming across the county. The coalition’s goals include developing more childcare spaces, expanding staff training, and building community trust and engagement.

Getz said her courses emphasize hands-on learning and building local capacity so that community partners can continue the work beyond IU’s involvement.  

“One of the things that's most important is that we get our students out to engage with youth and not just talk about engaging with youth,” she said. 

Megan Kwaiser, a senior studying exercise science and youth development, said it was important to approach the community as an ally and partner.  

“It was about asking, ‘How can we help you, and what can we learn from you?’ They already had passion. What they needed were resources and tools,” Kwaiser said. 

During the course, Kwaiser worked with community partners to develop sensory rooms to help children regulate emotions, an experience she plans to carry into her future career as a pediatric occupational therapist.  

“It showed me how important community buy-in is,” she said. 

Laureli Hendrix, majoring in youth development, continues to collaborate with the YMCA on trauma training beyond her time in Getz’s class.  

“Dr. Deb and I are still working on that, and that's something that we’re going to the community and working with,” she said. “It made me realize that I could make an impact, even at a college-student level. It just made me more excited to be in the professional level making a difference.” 

The student projects contributed to the ongoing work of the Daviess County childcare coalition, which brings together the Daviess County Community Foundation, the YMCA, Washington Community Schools, and other partners to coordinate childcare and youth programming across the county. The coalition’s goals include developing more childcare spaces, expanding staff training, and building community trust and engagement. 

Looking ahead

The work unfolding in Daviess County is part of a broader effort to strengthen early learning across southern Indiana. As neighboring counties develop local coalitions and assess their childcare needs, regional partners like Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) and Uplands Smart Start are helping connect those efforts through shared data, funding, and strategy.

Jennifer Myers, director of Uplands Smart Start, an early learning leadership initiative of the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC), said that childcare challenges have far-reaching effects.

“Whether people have children or not, childcare impacts us all,” Myers said. “It’s tied to workforce, education, and the health of the whole community."

And these challenges, she said, are not unique to Daviess County.

“Access is a continuous barrier in all counties—rural, urban, and suburban,” Myers said. “It’s finding a seat that meets a family’s needs, and sometimes you just don’t have options."

Since 2019, the CFBMC and ROI have collaborated to expand access to high-quality childcare across the region’s 11 counties, including Daviess.

“I think the goal at the end of the day is to meet the needs of children so that families can work and our communities can thrive. And ultimately, our region thrives because of those efforts,” she said.