January 18, 2024 | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

United Way of Central Minnesota invites our business community to join us as we address the critical issue of child care within our community.

United Way of Central Minnesota and the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation have been carefully addressing the critical issue of child care within our community. The shortage of accessible, quality child care services affects many families and employers, and both our organizations have been committed to pioneering solutions.

With our focus on strengthening our existing child care programs while also making it easier to develop higher-quality programs, we are excited to announce a Child Care Summit scheduled for January 18, 2024.

This event is designed to Unite our local business community in shedding light on the community-wide challenges of child care scarcity while fostering dialogue toward a collaborative, community-driven solution.

Join us on
Thursday, January 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Great River Regional Library - St. Cloud, MN
Lunch will be served.

AGENDA

9:30 -10 a.m.
Registration and Coffee

10 a.m
Introduction - Ryan Cross

10:10 - 11 a.m.
Keynote Speakers: King Banaian and Luke Greiner: What are the effects on our economy and community without adequate access to quality child care/Early Education?

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Session 1: Marnie Werner, Jessica Gilder, Kayla Overman: Out of the Box Thinking: Solutions from Around MN

12 - 1 p.m.
Lunch Session: What businesses can do BEYOND On-site Child Care that can help move the needle.

Scholarships, Higher Education Pathways
Shared Service Network: Milestones
UW Business Landing Page and Resources
Advocacy

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Session 2: St. David’s: Program Overview and Children’s Mental Health Needs

2:00 - 2:45 p.m.
Mythbusters Panel: Mande Hatten, Ryan Cross, Pam Bjerke, Milestones, Sartell: Q and A with speakers and businesses discussing roadblocks and questions to moving forward.

2:45 - 3:00 p.m. - Call to Action, Networking, Wrap up
Survey to participants to quantify desire for more information, thoughts on how they plan to move forward, etc.

Need more information? Please contact Sara Hagen at 320-229-3511 or shagen@unitedwayhelps.org