Join the affordable child care discussion

In response to the editorial, "Child care: Affordable, high-quality child care is a community and economic issue" (Herald, Sept. 27), steps are being taken locally in La Plata County.

A daylong workshop addressing this issue is planned for Oct. 6. Members from all sectors of our community are encouraged to attend and start a strategic plan to address this important issue.

La Plata County Thrive! Living Wage Coalition recognized this complex issue over the last years as several local early childhood centers inquired about qualifying for Thrive!'s Employer Recognition Program.

They all wanted to, and knew the importance of, paying their employees a living wage. At the same time they struggled to keep tuition fees down for parents. Thrive! also recognized that parents with young children could often not afford to work. This was affecting the welfare of families, the stability of our local workforce and our community as a whole.

Thrive! met with local leaders in early childhood care and education early this year to find that the issue was being studied at the state level and discussed regionally.

But they saw a need to address this at the county level and to include the business community.

To that end, we have been planning a daylong workshop for Oct. 6 at the Durango Public Library: "Early Childhood Care ? NOT JUST FOR KIDS: Making it right for workers, families, business and our community."

Find more details and register at www.thrivelaplata.com.

Maureen Maliszewski

Durango