Each site organized a conference based on specific community concerns and involved local business and community leaders in the planning process. Follow-up activities are important in providing strategies to build employer coalitions and to support identified needs. These pilot sites will promote understanding of the issues and support for local workforce dependent care services. These groups will be a support network to new groups, recommend organizational strategies and activities, and provide insight based on their own experiences. In addition, the coalitions and a community team are invited to help plan a statewide economic planning conference scheduled for 1998.
Dependent care needs significantly impact the current as well as the future workforce.
The ability to address the issues collaboratively, utilizing the talents of local business and community leaders, is essential. Support provided by community employer coalitions can play a major role in assisting with continued economic growth for employers and improved quality of life for working families. Return to the Table of Contents.