Elevate Magazine December 2023 Rapid City South Dakota

DECEMBER 2023

Volume 4. Issue No. 12

nicole krebs & YMCA

providing an

emotional safe place

childcare

for children

impacting our

economic footprint

taking on

child care

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ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

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DEC inside

DEC. 23

Volume 4 // Issue No. 12

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BUNCHES OF LOVE

Pam Ramp dedicates life to creating a caring place for kids.

BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI

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YMCA SAFE SPACE

Nicole Krebs builds a home away from home for kids.

BY DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY

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A VOICE FOR CHILDCARE

Kayla Klein advocates for better childcare.

BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI

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THE EXPENSE OF CHILDCARE

Childcare is too expensive and not expensive enough.

BY CALLIE TYSDAL

CONNECT

WITH US @ELEVATERAPIDCITY

elevaterapidcity.com

Cover photo by Shiloh Francis

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Child care is experiencing a crisis in America. It's a market that doesn't work. Child care costs are greater than most middle-class customers can afford. And waiting lists are long. In most cases, the market would respond with new companies entering the picture and a slow and steady price competition. But not in child care, where the industry has seen a 20% drop in the number of providers since the end of the pandemic.

What's going on here, and why doesn't the market work? There are several reasons. First, child care has government-mandated staff-to-child ratios, making child care an industry with a lot of extra workers and high payroll costs—despite the low perworker wages. Raising wages, which most providers would love to do, simply is not an option. Second, increased liability in the child care sector comes with higher insurance costs. Third, child care costs have increased at a rate higher than inflation.

That's forced many families to take one parent out of the workforce.

It's a vicious and spiraling cycle. Fewer workers in the workforce means more staff shortages at child care centers, which leads to decreases in openings, leading to more parents dropping out of the workforce, which then leads to more workforce shortages generally. And it feels like it never ends.

And it feels like nothing can be done.

Welcome to this issue of Elevate, where we tell the stories of people and providers who are doing something, who are creating spaces for debate around solving the childcare crisis, and who care deeply about the future of our workforce in the Black Hills and beyond.

We hope this comprehensive look at the child care profession in the area will get all of us thinking about what we can do to help.

You've probably heard that most of a child's brain development happens before the age of five.

If that's the case, this issue of Elevate will be one of our most important to date.

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

Stay safe and God-speed.

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Elevate is a monthly publication produced by Elevate Rapid City. It is the premier business magazine for the Black Hills region telling the stories that make our area unique and vibrant.

PO Box 747, Rapid City, SD 57709 605.343.1744 elevaterapidcity.com PRESIDENT & CEO Tom Johnson SENIOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR Taylor Davis SENIOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Shiloh Francis SENIOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Lori Frederick SENIOR PUBLIC POLICY DIRECTOR Garth Wadsworth OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Liz Highland EVENTS & MARKETING DIRECTOR Rachel Nelson WORKFORCE & EQUITY DIRECTOR Reese Niu HOUSING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Laura Jones EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT MANAGER Alyssa Larkey INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP MANAGER Dillon Matuska ECOSYSTEM SUPPORT & PROPERTY MANAGER Loni Reichert BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Kallie Ruland INVESTOR RELATIONS MANAGER Jason Wittenberg EVENTS & MARKETING COORDINATOR Maddie Bazala RESEARCH & DATA COORDINATOR Karissa Ellis DIGITAL CONTENT COORDINATOR Sydney Riendeau EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Ashley Simonson DESIGN & LAYOUT Bailey Sadowsky Shadow Sky Creative Co. PUBLISHED BY THE RAPID CITY JOURNAL

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STORYBOOK ISLAND

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OF RAPID CITY

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December

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

JINGLE BELL LEGACY RIDE FOUNDERS PARK

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December

1880 TRAIN HOLIDAY EXPRESS HILL CITY

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December

GAME NIGHT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER OF RAPID CITY

On New Year's Eve, join the Black Hills Symphony Orchestra for a gaming-themed night filled with music from various games, including the Olympic anthem "Summon the Heroes" and tunes from video games like Legend of Zelda, Tetris, Mario Brothers, and World of Warcraft. bhsymphony.org/concerts

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23 1880 TRAIN

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Bunches of love pam Ramp dedicates life to creating warm , caring place for children

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI // PHOTOS BY SHILOH FRANCIS

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elevaterapidcity.com

Pam Ramp sits in the office at the Banana Bunch Children’s Learning Center colorful drawings of stick figures and rainbows lining the back wall and school photos, including a few high school graduation announcements, covering the door. Some preschoolers wander in wearing mischievous grins while the sound of giggles, and a few unhappy cries, flow from classrooms.

Pam starts the count 3 … 2… but before 1, the preschoolers return to their spots, and the life-long educator continues her conversation. Buses arrive;

they say; when they come up and give you a hug or their face lights up when they see you at Wal-Mart.

I do this for them and for their parents. Some of the parents need help and direction or just someone to listen to them. And sometimes we need them too. It is a two-way street."

Those successes are why Pam has been in child care for more than 30 years, 28 of those at Banana Bunch on St. Patrick Street. She loves watching her children grow and develop into confident, self-sufficient learners, and being a part of that development.

"i do this for them and for their parents. some of the parents need help and direction or just someone to listen to them. and sometimes we need them too.

It is a two-way street."

-PAM RAMP

teachers pop in, and yet the 65-year-old does not skip a beat.

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

Her days are often crazy and long. The pay is less than ideal. The rewards, however, are numerous.

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“The success stories are when you can potty train a child; when they can write their name; when they are proud to show you something they accomplished or the things

Originally from a small town in New York, Pam always knew she was destined to work with children. She started babysitting at 10 years old with her goal of becoming a teacher. Her path took a slight detour when, at the age of 20, Pam joined the Air Force and met her husband Jim, an aircraft maintenance specialist. While stationed in California, Pam began earning her education

degree while working as a teacher’s aide and child care provider.

In the early 1990s, after the California base closed, the Ramp family relocated to Ellsworth Air Force Base. In 1995, Pam joined the staff at Banana Bunch, a child care center that opened a decade earlier.

“I started teaching fouryear-old preschool and haven’t left,” Pam said. “My oldest preschoolers are in their 30s now.”

Pam decided to forgo a degree and focus on teaching her kids at the Banana Bunch.

In 2010, when George and Mary Wadeson wanted to sell, Pam bought the center.

It is now a family business with her son Jeremy and daughter-in-law Andrea working at Banana Bunch and some of her former preschoolers joining the team as teachers.

While her staff is strong, it is not abundant.

Banana Bunch’s capacity is 140 kids aged six weeks old through fifth grade. They currently have 96 with a

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waiting list for some ages. Pam has 22 staff members and needs 33 to be at full capacity.

Her “Now Hiring’’ sign in the window seems to be a permanent fixture. “This is just such a critical industry, and it is the toughest time I have ever seen in child care. No one wants to work, and it is not us. Two major centers closed because you can’t get enough staff to make it.”

Pam, however, is luckier than many.

More than half her staff have been with her long term. “Consistency is so important for kids and for us. I know their strengths and weaknesses, and it just makes it so much easier.”

At 65, Pam hopes to retire soon.

She can’t begin to count the number of kids that have come through the doors of Banana Bunch, but she hopes that

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ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

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she has impacted each in some way.

“It’s not the perfect job for everybody.

You have to interact and play. You have to correct and guide. You have to know how to talk to each child differently.

They don’t react the same. They don’t do the same thing. They are all different.”

While it is not the perfect job for everyone, it is the perfect one for Pam.

She hopes more passionate people enter the child care profession, because while it is not easy, it is fulfilling and so critical. Her advice for those entering child care is to find mentors.

“Whether you are starting out as a teacher, a director, or an owner, find someone who has gone down the path before and ask them questions and advice. You’re not in this alone.” *

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from

home away

home

Nicole Krebs and the Rapid City YMCA creates place for children to learn good habits.

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

STORY BY DOWNTOWN RAPID CITY // PHOTOS BY SHILOH FRANCIS

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elevaterapidcity.com

The Rapid City YMCA has always felt like a second home for Nicole Krebs. “I grew up at the Y,” she said. “I came here after school all through high school until I left for college.” Now, as the Early Learning Director, she’s been able to give back to an organization that gave so much to her.

Nicole attended South Dakota State University where she majored in Early Childhood Education and Care. “I originally wanted to go into High School Education, but I took a guidance course on early childhood education and was placed in a Preschool classroom and I loved it,” she recalled. “It really hit home the importance of the first five years of a person’s life. By five, a person’s brain is 90% developed.” After that experience she knew that was the direction she wanted her career to go. “It’s the time of their life when you can be proactive, not reactive. Kids can start to build good habits early on.”

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

After graduating with her degree, Nicole spent one year abroad in Turkey, where once again she was both inspired and affirmed in her career path. “It was eyeopening to see the collective culture in Turkey, caring for children is a cultural identity; uncles, aunts, and grandparents all worked together to raise kids in a community,” she explained.

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This overwhelming feeling of community contributing to the care of children was confirmation to Nicole that she was in the right field of work. After returning from Turkey, Nicole returned to her original community: Rapid City. “My family is all here, and I think the Hills have their own uniqueness. It feels like a hidden gem after going and seeing so many other places.”

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ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

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"It really hit home the importance of the first five years of a person's life. By five, [the] brain is 90% developed... it's the time of their life when you can be proactive, not reactive."

elevaterapidcity.com

- Nicole Krebs

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Once again, the stars were aligning for Nicole and her career as she returned home to Rapid City.

The YMCA had expanded into the former Black Hills Energy building at 625 Ninth Street. Nicole was able to do a walk through as part of a third-party project. As someone who had grown up in the YMCA, she was excited to see the growth of the facility and services. The idea of being part of something new and help grow it from the ground up was enticing to Nicole. The day after her walk-through she applied for a position with the YMCA.

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

The student was now the teacher. Nicole joined the YMCA team first as an Assistant Teacher where she had the opportunity gain experience and

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perspective in the classroom. Over the years her dedication to the children and program and passion to make a positive impact has led her to be promoted to where she is today: Early Learning Director.

No two days in this job are the same for Nicole.

Some days she supports the One Heart and Jump Start programs, other days she will spend her time creating and teaching training for new staff members across all of the YMCA locations in Rapid City. “Day to day varies drastically, but it keeps me on my toes,” Nicole says with a bright smile. YMCA services are vast, and there are five different buildings operated by the YMCA that Nicole may have to visit in a single day.

The best part of the job for Nicole? Working with staff on curriculum support and carrying out training.

She emphasizes the importance of a socialemotional curriculum where teachers are coached on how to work through emotional upset.

“Gone are the days of ‘go sit in time out’,” she explained. “We teach consciousness discipline which gives skills to the teachers to work on regulating emotions.”

The way Nicole speaks about her work makes it clear that she is guided by empathy, kindness, and intellect. With leaders like Nicole cultivating mindful development, it’s easy to be optimistic for future generations and the world they will create. *

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a voice better for

child care

KAYLA KLEIN ADVOCATES FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO CHILD CARE IN SOUTH DAKOTA STORY BY MICHELLE PAWELSKI // PHOTOS SUBMITTED

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

Kayla Klein sees the faces and knows the stories behind a broken system.

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A system that is a cycle of long waitlists, facility closures, low wages, exhausted providers, and distraught parents. A system where child care is too expensive for parents

but brings in too little revenue for programs to operate sustainably.

A system that Kayla aims to improve.

“I had one mother come to me and say that she was living in her car, and she really couldn’t afford to keep bringing her son, but

she valued the learning and experience he was getting so much that she was going to do everything she could to keep him in school,” Kayla said of one of her families at the Northern Hills Alliance for Children (NHAC) in Deadwood. “I have never forgotten that.

No parent should ever

elevaterapidcity.com

Photo by Gaston Photography

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have to make that choice – the choice between a safe and educational environment for their child versus the cost of food and shelter.”

Stories like these motivated Kayla to move from being a child care provider to lobbying for an improved system.

“It was so horribly painful at times to watch my parents who could not afford my rates, but my rates weren’t even paying for my teachers.

I felt awful. I know these teachers deserved more, but I can’t afford to pay them more, and the parents were already feeling strapped with how much they were paying.”

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

NORTHERN HILLS ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN

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Kayla’s exposure to early childhood education started with her mother Myrna Westby. Myrna ran her own in-home child care and preschool in Rosholt, a small town in the northeast corner of South Dakota. When the family moved to Rapid City, Myrna earned an early education and special education dual degree working in a variety of different capacities over the decades. She is currently an Early Intervention and Special Education teacher for the Spearfish School District.

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"This is not just a child care business problem or a parent problem; problem this field and the lack of support for the field affects everyone whether you have children or not. It directly affects the success or decline in our economy, so we all need to be concerned about this. We need to look at this from a public perspective and make investments on a larger level in a different way than we historically have in South Dakota."

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

- Kayla Klein -

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elevaterapidcity.com

Photo by Gaston Photography

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GRAND OPENING OF 2ND SITE

“Her experience is so vast and talk about passion; my mother is amazing. She is an inspiration to me always.”

Kayla’s first position with children, other than babysitting, was working with her mother at Youth and Family Services (YFS) at the age of 16. “My mom was a staff manager for the Head Start and Child Care Program, and I started working with the program as a substitute. That is where my career started.”

During college at Black Hills State University, Kayla moved from YFS to working with middle schoolers at Girls Incorporated.

Despite years working with children, Kayla was still unsure of what she wanted to do.

She started taking classes that interested her, all of which steered her to earning a degree in human services and psychology. “I never thought I would actually work with children or in the early learning field, but I feel like everything in my life, on my journey, and in my past led me to where I am today.”

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

Kayla graduated from BHSU in 2010 just as the Northern Hills Alliance for Children, a non-profit child care center, was opening.

She was hired as the assistant director and three months later promoted to executive director. “That is truly where my passion started to arise.”

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She served as executive director for more than seven years with both her children going through NHAC. During her time leading the center, Kayla saw firsthand a system that was in crisis and facing growing challenges.

Instead of watching the problems worsen,

Kayla chose to be a part of the solutions.

“I have always had this motto that if you are going to say something you better do something. Nothing is going to change if you continually just complain about a problem.”

Kayla started advocating on both a local and state level. She became the policy chairperson for the South Dakota Association for the Education of Young Children (SDAEYC), traveling to Washington, D.C. to talk with Congressional delegates. She became a registered lobbyist and in 2018 helped start Early Learners South Dakota, a community-driven, grassroots effort led by SDAEYC that brings awareness and support to the importance of how access to a variety of early learning environments impacts the community’s future. In 2021, Kayla started her own business, Klein Visioneering Group, to be a louder voice for change.

“This is not just a child care business problem or a parent problem; this field and the lack of support for the field affects everyone whether you have children or not. It directly affects the success or decline in our economy, so we all need to be concerned about this. We need to look at this from a public perspective and make investments on a larger level in a different way than we historically have in South Dakota.”

There are positive things happening and more people working together to improve the child care system. Kayla hopes to see legislation coming forward that will improve the future of child care in South

Dakota including removing barriers for assistance and increasing the subsidy rates; and automatic subsidies for parents who work in the industry. “That is a double win. We are getting a parent into the workforce and at the same time creating up to nine additional spots for other families to enter the workforce.”

are implemented. “It has taken too long to get here. I hope I am wrong, but I can see more places closing and the crisis getting worse before it gets better.”

program, Tri-Share, which would make care more accessible and affordable by splitting the cost between the family, employer, and the foundation. “This has been successful in other states. In Michigan, they are seeing like a 60 percent decrease in employee turnover.”

“We are looking at solving this crisis as a state and not just within the field. That has been a lifelong goal of mine. We are making so much progress, and that is great. That is what drives me and pushes me into new, uncharted territory.” *

Kayla said they are also collaborating with the John T. Vucurevich Foundation on a pilot

"i have always had this motto that if you are going to say something you better do something. nothing is going to change if you continually just complain about the problem."

But hope and momentum are there.

Kayla is more determined than ever to fight for the children and their families and create a system where all people have accessible and quality options for child care.

Klein Visioneering Group 605-430-9396 kleinvg.com

The Radiant

- kayla klein

“For the first time in these many years I have been advocating, this is the first time I have seen such cohesion, communication, and unification across the aisles. We needed our Republican leaders to decide this was an issue they wanted to take on, and we have seen it.”

While there are positive developments on the horizon; change in government is slow.

Although an optimist, Kayla believes the system will likely get worse before solutions

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Local businesses are also implementing innovative solutions to help their employees navigate child care including flexible scheduling, allowing children into the workplace during certain hours, and offering child care assistance as part of their benefits package.

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child why it's too

expensive

& not expensive enough in rapid City

care ?

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

BY CALLIE TYSDAL, JOHN T. VUCUREVICH FOUNDATION

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$?

Despite her passion and commitment, Bernice faces a harsh reality in the child care industry: the current

market prices for child care services are far below the actual cost of providing quality care.

In 2022, according to the SD State Market Rate Report, Bernice and 75% of providers in the county charged as little as $4.06 per hour for infants and toddlers (ages 0-3) and $4.40 per

hour for preschoolers (ages 4-5). These rates translate to $704 and $624 per month, respectively.

However, Bernice, like many providers, grapples with a significant financial setback.

The accompanying graph vividly illustrates

$

elevaterapidcity.com

Meet Bernice, a dedicated child care provider in Rapid City who pours her heart into creating a nurturing environment for the children in her care.

$?

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ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

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that, for infants and toddlers, Bernice faces a loss ranging from $1.15 to $1.22 per hour or $119 to $212 per month. The only glimmer of profit comes from preschool enrollment, where lower teacher-to-child ratios offer a modest gain of $0.80 per hour or $138 per month. Despite these challenges, Bernice remains committed to providing quality child care, emphasizing the urgent need for increased investment and support in the child care industry.

Bernice's dedication to child care goes beyond the walls of her facility; it delves into the complex web of challenges that both parents and providers face in the industry. Take John and Emily, a young couple in their late-twenties, with a three-year-old daughter attending Bernice's child care. John and Emily are caught in the dilemma of child care costs. As parents with a young child, they navigate a stage in life where their financial security and flexibility are limited.

Juggling demanding jobs without the pay of seasoned professionals, they find themselves shouldering the most

expensive years of their child's life from their own pockets.

The financial strain on families like John and Emily's is profound, even with Bernice taking a financial loss on their child’s care. Nationally, families end up spending over $10,000 per child per year on child care, equivalent to a year of in-state tuition at a 4-year college. The average annual cost of center-based child care in the United States has surged by nearly 220% over the last three decades, far outpacing the increase in other essential family expenses.

Child care, however, is not a lucrative business model for providers like Bernice, and it presents a challenging career path. Fixed costs, driven by state-mandated teacher-to-child ratio requirements ensuring child safety, leave around 71% of the child care budget allocated to staffing and compensation. In South Dakota, child care workers earn an annual average of $25,490, equivalent to $12.26 per hour, among the lowest wages in the state and yet providers can still barely afford to keep them employed.

cost vs. charge per child PROVIDERS CHARGE FAMILIES LESS THAN THE COST OF CARE FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS. THEY MAKE UP BUDGET SHORTFALLS WITH PRESCHOOL-AGE CARE.

INFANTS (AGES 0-1)

$4.06

$5.28

TODDLERS (AGES 2-3)

$4.06

$5.21

$3.60

ACTUAL COST

$4.40 COST CHARGED

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PRESCHOOLERS (AGES 4-5)

33

Imagine your are a child care provider. how would you plan to balance your budget when you lose nearly $200 per month on a child?

The consequences of these challenges extend beyond individual families to impact the wider community and businesses. In Rapid City, where 75% of children under 6 have all available parents working full-time, child care challenges result in an estimated $150 million annual loss in productivity for South Dakota employers.

A staggering 86% of primary caregivers of infants and toddlers report that child care issues have a detrimental impact on their work commitments.

As Bernice continues to provide vital child care services, the urgent need for increased investment, support, and innovative solutions in the child care industry becomes increasingly evident. The delicate dance between providers and parents, like John and Emily, highlights the critical importance of addressing the financial challenges and ensuring affordable child care for families in the community.

We all play a role in finding solutions.

Solutions require collective efforts. The

analysis of the finances and prospects for this fictional, albeit it realistic, Rapid City child care provider highlights that the current child care business model is flawed.

To address this issue, it's clear that substantial new investment from the government, businesses, and other groups that benefit from child care services is not just justified but essential.

The John T. Vucurevich Foundation is committed to finding innovative solutions to this crisis alongside child care providers, families, and the business community. *

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT Opt-In for updates on exciting JTVF Child Care Pilot Programs

ELEVATE • DEC. 2023

Download the SD Child Care Business Collaborative Solutions Document

34 34

Request a presentation of the findings by contacting Callie Tysdal, Communications Director 605-343-3141 ctysdal@jtvf.org

This story, though fictionalized, represents real data and scenarios shared by Rapid City child care providers in the latest child care report, produced by the John T. Vucurevich Foundation with their trusted partners at the Low-Income Investment Fund. This report peels back the curtain on the local child care economy, bringing together invaluable insights from local child care providers and the comprehensive 2022 Child Care Market Rate and Cost of Care reports for South Dakota. Readers will uncover the vivid tapestry of the local child care economy, revealing vital trends and urgent needs.

The John T. Vucurevich Foundation believes that child care is vital community infrastructure.

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