Follow Up to ChildCare Issues in Hubbard County (Part II) Program

 

 

Thank you to our panel and everyone that attended our program on April 26, 2023 discussing Child Care Issues in Hubbard County.  The panel presented a variety of ways for child care providers to get started in business or upgrade their current facilities or programs.  We learned there are coaches available to help providers in navigating the paperwork and finding grants to help.  

The last 30 minutes of the program was a discussion with the audience and the panel as to ways to promote changes with in the child care system in the area. We all hope that this discussion continues in the next months with all the groups that were mentioned. (Economic Development, Local businesses, Chamber of Commerce, and Hubbard County government representatives etc).  If you want to become part of this discussion, please contact us and we will share contact information with the relevant people.

Follow this link if you wish to view the complete video of the second program:  https://youtu.be/UZ7i6z_jRn8 

Use this link to view the first program:  https://youtu.be/-IrXpx7BTnY

ChildCare Issues in Hubbard County (Part 2)

Child Care Issues in Hubbard County (Part 2) will be presented by the League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area (LWV PRA) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 in the Northwoods Bank Community Room: (1200 1st Street E). A panel of five experts has been invited to discuss possible solutions to the issues raised during the first program held March 28.

The March program was well received and raised a number of issues that, while not only specific to Hubbard County, have a great impact on our local economy.  The first panel consisted of a parent, an experienced provider, a newly licensed provider, the Hubbard County licensor and foster care licensor. They discussed several topics including the shortage of licensed providers in the county for all ages but especially infants, the high cost of a new provider starting a business, the lack of substitutes to cover for providers when they are sick, etc., and  the difficulty of finding which providers have current openings. These are problems that affect all of Hubbard County, not just parents or guardians of young children. Everyone’s quality of life is impacted when quality childcare is not available.

April’s panel will consist of:

• Michelle Wilkowski, a 25-year veteran of Head Start and current director of MAHUBE-OTWA Head Start. As a licensed pre-K teacher, Michelle began her career in early childhood as an Early Head Start home visitor and teacher before becoming director in 2018.
• Missy Okeson, program officer and child care lead at the Northwest Minnesota Foundation (NMF) since 2016. She collaborates with early educators, community task forces and regional child care experts to create quality child care solutions for the well-being of young children and families throughout the 12 counties and two tribal nations NMF serves.
• Michele Hutchinson, a manager, who has been in the early childhood field for over 30 years. Her experience ranges from a parent on the Early Childhood Family Education advisory board to policy council with Head Start. Struggling to find quality care, she operated her own group family child care along with her own five children for over 20 years. She holds a BA degree in Early Childhood Education from Concordia College, St Paul. Michele was hired as a Business Development Specialist with First Children’s Finance in August 2021.
• Dana Patsie, director of child care programs at MAHUBE-OTWA Community Action Partnership, oversees a number of programs that support children’s access to quality early childhood education. Those supports include Early Learning Scholarships, Child Care Assistance, Child Care Aware/Parent Aware Quality Coaching, Wayfinder Navigation, and Family, Friend and Neighbor Supports.
• Maria Steen, the Child Care Connections Director at CAPLP, a community action agency based in Moorhead,  provides resources for child care professionals to succeed in their careers, and help families access and afford quality child care through financial support. Our CAPLP Child Care Aware team serves early childhood educators in the 21 counties and 2 tribal nations of Northwest Minnesota through child care services grants, professional development training and advising, and Parent Aware recruitment and outreach. CAPLP also provides new Child Care Start-up + Family, Friend & Neighbor Caregiver Support, Parent Aware Coaching, and Early Learning Scholarships in 9 Minnesota counties.

Please join LWV PRA for this important discussion April 26. Remember League of Women Voters is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. Please direct any questions about LWV PRA activities, events or on how to join by emailing lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.

If you missed the first program, you can view the video here:  https://youtu.be/-IrXpx7BTnY

Video of Hubbard County Commissioner Special Election forum

 

Please pass along this to anyone you know that lives in District 4 who can vote in the special election.  Thank you for your help in educating our voters. 

The 4th Commissioner District includes the cities of Akeley and Laporte and townships of Akeley, Clay, Guthrie, Hart Lake, Hendrickson, Lakeport, Mantrap, Steamboat River and Thorpe.
Candidates are Lyle Howg, Laporte; Steve Keranen, Nevis; Kristin Fake, Akeley; and Ryan J. Johnson, Guthrie.

https://youtu.be/wVmM-LyvYzI

The link above will take you to our YouTube library to view the video of last night's candidate forum.  We are hoping that as many voters in District 4 as possible can view this forum before making their choices. 

When viewing a candidate forum, please remember this policy:

  The League determines which questions are asked and has attempted in good faith to cover areas of interest expressed by the audience. Questions will be screened and similar questions will be consolidated so as many topics as possible can be covered. No questions of a personal nature or that are inappropriately hostile or unclear in intent were asked.

Special Election for District 4 County Commissioner

The League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area has a long tradition of hosting candidate forums and invites the public to a forum for the Special Primary Election for Hubbard County Commissioner Dist. 4.

All candidates who filed for office have been invited to participate in this forum which will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 6 at at the Akeley Regional  Community Center (ARCC), 210 Pleasant Ave SE.

The 4th Commissioner District includes the cities of Akeley and Laporte and
townships of Akeley, Clay, Guthrie, Hart Lake, Hendrickson, Lakeport, Mantrap,
Steamboat River and Thorpe.

Candidates are Lyle Howg, Laporte; Steve Keranen, Nevis; Kristin Fake, Akeley; and
Ryan J. Johnson, Guthrie. These four candidates are on the ballot for a special Primary Election through April 25. The field will be narrowed to two candidates with voting in a Special General Election  through Aug. 8.

The League of Women Voters hosts candidate forums, moderated by an experienced
and League-trained moderator, to give voters the opportunity to hear directly from the
candidates.

Forum procedures allow each candidate equal time to address issues and attempt to
include as many questions as possible to be asked within the hour. The audience can
help by listening respectfully to answers and not making comments during the forum.
After each forum there will be time for voters to connect with the candidates with any
specific questions. (a video of the forum will be posted on our website so that the public can view it as needed during this election cycle) 

The public has two ways to submit questions relevant to the office. To submit
questions in advance email lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. The deadline to email questions is Sunday, April 2. Any questions submitted via email will remain confidential with all identifying information removed before the event. At the forum audience members may submit questions in writing, in accordance with forum rules.

For information about mail ballot procedures for the Special Primary Election, go to
http://www.co.hubbard.mn.us/news_detail_T6_R228.php.

The League of Women Voters is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor
opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working
on vital issues of concern to members and the public.

Please direct any questions about League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area
(LWVPRA) activities, events or on how to join by emailing lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org.

 

ChildCare Issues in Hubbard County (Part I)

 If you missed this program follow the link below to view the video:

 https://youtu.be/-IrXpx7BTnY

Since 1987 League of Women Voters Minnesota has supported “coordinated public
policies and funding to ensure safe, affordable, quality child care throughout the
state.” But the issue is still very relevant today with numerous organizations and businesses being concerned about the lack of quality childcare that impacts all of us.

Last September the Nevis Women’s Club held a conference on Empowering Women
in Rural Areas. A follow up survey of the attendees found that childcare was one of the
top three topics identified as needing change. This year League of Women Voters Park
Rapids Area (LWV PRA) will present two educational programs on Childcare Issues in
Hubbard County. The first panel will discuss the current state of childcare in Hubbard
County.

Finding childcare to match working hours, paying for childcare and finding childcare
openings can all prove very challenging for families in Hubbard County. According to
Leeza Branstrom, the Family Childcare Licensor with Hubbard County Social Services,
the number of active childcare licenses in Hubbard has been steadily declining. In 2018
there were 58 active licenses but in 2023 there are only 41 active licenses. The most
troubling area, Branstrom states, is finding infant care.

The LWV PRA program, Childcare Issues in Hubbard County, will be held Tuesday , March 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the Northwoods Bank Community Room (1200 1st Street E, Park Rapids). The program is free to the public and handicap accessible.

A panel of local experts for the program will include:

• Hailey Sharp - a new provider in the process of getting licensed,
• Zoe Mattson - new mother who struggled with finding childcare,
• Jennifer Tolle - Foster Care Licensor,  I am the secondary child care licensor, I assist in facility investigations regarding child care; I have minor children who attend in home daycare.
• Leeza Branstrom - employed by Hubbard County Social Services for six years.
• Kari Smith - experienced licensed provider, who started her career in the early childhood field in 1989. “As a military family we moved a lot but eventually landed back in Park Rapids She started her child care business in 2001.

Each panel member will speak about their experiences with childcare issues. There will be time for questions from the public after the presentations. A follow-up program on childcare resources will be held April 26. It will also be held at Northwoods Bank.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting
nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always
working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. Please direct any
questions about LWV PRA activities, events or on how to join by
emailing:  lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org .

103 Years Strong: Come Learn More About League of Women Voters

February 14 is the day we commemorate the birthday of the League of Women Voters with collective action, advocacy, and storytelling. Women have powered democracy for over 100 years, and for our birthday, we are coming together across the country to continue to educate voters on issues relevant to the public in 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you can join us at Park Rapids Bella Caffé (116 3rd Street, Park Rapids) to celebrate Women's Right to Vote. We'll serve birthday cake between 10 am & 1 pm Tuesday, Feb. 14.

LWV members will be there to answer your questions. Learn more about  LWV Park Rapids Area, a nonpartisan organization that never endorses candidates. Find out about our plans for the year ahead.

Bring friends/loved ones. Bella Caffé is looking forward to welcoming you, too!


An invitation from LWV United States:  

On Feb. 14, the League of Women Voters is turning 103! Join us, @LWVUS, and Leagues from across the country with a virtual pep rally to celebrate our 103-year legacy. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3wam54p

Now It Is Up to You: VOTE!

 

Over the last eight weeks, League of Women Voters (LWV) Park Rapids, a non partisan, nonprofit organization, has been providing voters with information on:

• Why our elections are secure,
• Ways to vote early,
• How to register before Election Day,
• How to deal with misinformation about voter security, and
• How to evaluate the news you are hearing about elections.


LWV Park Rapids and the Park Rapids Enterprise also presented four candidate forums for local candidates from the area: Park Rapids City Council, Park Rapids School Board, Hubbard County Commissioners and Menahga School Board. These forums are one of few places where all the candidates appeared together and all answered the same questions submitted by the public. These forums were streamed by the Park Rapid Enterprise and recorded by LWVPRA. Videos are on YouTube for anyone to view before they go to vote.


Both LWV Park Rapids and the Park Rapids Enterprise have posted on their websites all the relevant information voters need to make their plan to vote.

•     This link (https://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/election-2022-resources) will take you to a section of the Enterprise's website that has all the informational and opinion articles posted plus voter guides. The Enterprise has made this section free as a public service to this community. Make sure you click on the “see more” and “load more” buttons as there is a lot of information.
•     This link (https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/whats-on-my-ballot/?searchTerm=sample%20ballot) will take you to the Secretary of State’s website to print out your sample ballot. We recommend you do this as boundaries have changed following the 2020 Census. Make sure you know whose names will be on your ballot; it might be different this year. Your polling place should be the same as last time, but you can check with the Hubbard County Auditor’s office if you have questions.
•     This link (https://lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/2022/10/links-to-all-four-candidate-forums-for.html) has the links to LWVPRA’s four videos.
•     Use this link to see forums from all around MN: (https://www.lwvmn.org/candidate-forums-2022).


Now it is up to you the Voters of Hubbard County to study the candidates and the issues, then go to your polling place to vote Nov 8. (You can vote early at the Hubbard County Courthouse until Nov 7). If you are voting by absentee ballot or live in a township where ballots are mailed, be aware it can take a week for mail to be delivered. Please consider delivering your ballot to the courthouse. All mail in ballots must arrive by election day. 


One last thing you can do is encourage others to vote. Then when the counting is done, congratulate the winners and thank everyone who stepped up to run for office.