Minnesota child care provider says she has support of several lawmakers amid industry turmoil

(Moorhead, MN) -- A local child care provider is sharing some optimism after a meeting with regional centers and lawmakers late last week.

Nicole Flick, the Owner and Operator of ABC 123 Child Enrichment Center in Dilworth, was one of the dozen providers who gathered in Fergus Falls on October 25th to share several concerns with the industry. Flick has been an outspoken advocate for providing better working conditions for employees, improving costs for parents, and cutting back on costs and time intensive regulations.

After the conversation with lawmakers in Fergus Falls, she believes the industry has the political support of multiple lawmakers; including Senators Rob Kupec (04, DFL), Jordan Rassmuson (09, R), Representative Heather (04A, DLF), and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN, D) and Tina Smith (MN, D). However, one of the big things Flick emphasized is the immediacy needed to provide support for child care providers.

"We are on this cliff right now where we are going to close or we need some influx of cash. They started a really great plan, but they have to follow through and they have to continue adding more money to the program because its not going to work if they don't," said Flick, "I don't have reserves, I went through most of those during the pandemic. I haven't been able to build that back up because we have been in crisis mode for the last three years."

A publication released by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development in 2020 discusses some of these issues raised by Flick. While there have been some increases to reimbursement rates since the 2022/2023 legislative session, a step that allows for the state to pay for a larger percentage of child care costs, the article shows some of the major problems identified by Flick that have been understood by state officials even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"A typical 57-seat child care center in Greater Minnesota operates at a loss even at 85% capacity. It is important to note that 100% capacity is nearly impossible to reach, as children move in and out of different age groups, each with different compliance markers for staffing and space," wrote Oriane Casale, Zina Noel, and Suzanne Pearl in Early Care and Education: Profile of an Industry in Crisis published in September of 2020.

Flick says many of the solutions posed by lawmakers or that have passed in previous sessions will not take effect until January of 2025. A time that is entirely too late according to the ABC 123 Child Enrichment Center owner, who says she currently is not able to pay her rent or utilities.

In addition, the Minnesota Legislative Session in 2023/2024 will be a policy focused year. Flick says this means some changes can be made to regulations, but points out the influx of dollars the industry needs will likely not occur.

"Everything is a process, and I understand that. But I don't know how many times we can keep telling them that we are on the edge of no child care whatsoever until they realize it. So it's kind of a waiting game."