Specifications include, but are not limited to: • Identify evidence-based policy solutions to key child care workforce constraints, including recruitment, retention, compensation, and benefits. • Identify child care regulations that pose barriers to increasing availability of licensed child care slots, without compromising quality and safety. • Develop solutions to incentivize employer-sponsored child care facilities or benefits. • Identify opportunities to foster public-private partnerships in addressing child care workforce and affordability challenges. • Develop framework for a pilot program to offer on-site child care facilities in a State of Alaska office to serve as a model for employer-provided child care benefits. • Identify any other innovative solutions that the task force recommends delivering affordable, quality child care to Alaskans. • The Department of Health will contract with an agency to support as follows: • In collaboration with AECCC staff, provide meeting coordination and facilitation of the Governor’s Task Force on Child Care (Task Force) on a monthly basis at minimum. This includes engaging statewide members of the taskforce and building consensus amongst members and other critical stakeholders. • Review and compile available data, needs assessments, strategic plans, and reports on the status of child care in Alaska; AECCC staff will assist in providing pertinent reports to the contractor for review and consideration. • Review and compile available recommendations for potential state policy strategies to improve the quality, accessibility, and affordability of child care in Alaska, including a review of what has been implemented in other states to improve the child care system. • Prepare a final report to be shared with the Governor’s Office (via the Commissioners of Health and Education & Early Development) on final recommendations for policy changes and fiscal impact in Alaska. • Coordinate with AECCC staff on the implementation and progress of the taskforce and final report/recommendations. • Present to the AECCC membership updates from the taskforce at each AECCC quarterly meeting.
