Our Story
The Citywide Childcare Cooperative emerged from the critical need to transform childcare in Alaska. The project began when community partners secured an Innovation grant from the state to pilot a cooperative childcare program at First Methodist Church of Anchorage. However, during initial planning, the partners recognized that a single pilot program wouldn't be enough to address Alaska's complex childcare challenges.
These challenges were clear: families struggled to find affordable, quality childcare; workers couldn't make a sustainable living in the field; and businesses faced employee retention issues due to workers' childcare needs. The partners realized that Alaska needed a flexible, community-responsive approach rather than a one-size-fits-all solution.
This insight led to an expanded vision: creating a network of cooperative childcare programs across Alaska. The network would support both in-home and center-based programs, providing worker-owners with essential training, resources, and shared services. These programs would align with Alaska's licensing requirements and the Learn and Grow initiative while remaining adaptable to community needs.
Three key organizations came together to launch this initiative:
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First United Methodist Church (FUMC), providing space for the pilot center and serving as fiscal agent
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Mutual Aid Network of Anchorage (MANA), engaging their network to identify potential worker-owners
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Hillcrest Children's Center (HCC), providing the training for the early education workforce
Why Are We Doing This
The challenges in childcare are clear: families struggle to find affordable, quality childcare; workers are choosing to leave the field because of low wages, lack of benefits, and poor working conditions; and businesses face employee retention issues due to workers' childcare needs. To address these conditions Alaska needs a flexible, community-responsive approach to childcare.
The Childcare Cooperative Network will provide access to training, shared services, and resources to expand access to affordable, quality childcare. The network will support a variety of programs: in-home and center-based programs, for-profit and non-profit, employer-sponsored and open-enrollment. The support is rooted in Alaska's quality initiatives (SEED, Learn and Grow) aligning with state and municipal initiatives to expand access to quality care. This partnership will expand access to quality licensed childcare by empowering the workforce. We are focused on creating systemic change that benefits workers, families, and communities alike, starting with the Citywide Childcare Cooperative (CCC) pilot project at First United Methodist Church in Anchorage.