'People are desperate': Walz holds roundtable to discuss Minnesota's limited rural child care
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — Discussions took on something of a bleak tone when the plight of families — particularly young, rural and working parents — came up during discussion.
“People are desperate,” said Christine Gesme of Harmony House of Little Falls, who noted she no longer adds more parents to her waiting list of 150 families. “I’ve had people asking me when was a good time for them to get pregnant. That’s real and that’s a real odd conversation. What do you tell these families who just want to work and raise their children?”
Gov. Tim Walz, flanked by Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, visited the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls Wednesday, July 10, to host a gathering of elected officials, government heads, child care providers, nonprofits and other experts. They aimed to invigorate an ongoing (and some members would say, decades long) discussion about how to address the issue of child care.
“This is a key issue of economic growth,” said Walz, who noted the state economy has a return of $12 for every $1 spent on child care. “This isn’t just a nice thing to have, it’s a necessity for hiring, retaining and recruiting an effective workforce.”
Read more: https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/government-and-politics/3832065-‘People-are-desperate’-Walz-holds-roundtable-to-discuss-Minnesotas-limited-rural-child-care