Sharing the story of LCDC
The words of the hymn, Here I am, Lord, often echo in my heart and mind. There are times when sitting in the quiet, the Holy Spirit stirs and unexpected things happen.
A couple of weeks ago, the spirit stirred with an unexpected phone call to me from a stranger, Samantha Cole, Childcare Business Liaison for the NC Department of Commerce.
Samantha Cole called, requesting more information about the backstory of opening the Lockhart Child Development Center (LCDC) and the partnership between the Cabarrus County Government and All Saints’ Episcopal Church, and how a public/private partnership was formed to serve county employees’ children who needed child care. She asked great questions.
I asked her how she knew about LCDC. She responded that, in 2022, a case study was performed on LCDC and an article was written and published that year on the NC Early Childhood Foundation website. The article had gained some state interest in regard to the Lockhart Child Development Center, which is housed at All Saints’.
The NC Task Force on Childcare and Early Education NC Department of Commerce was created by Governor Stein to explore creative ways to solve child care issues and support families in the workforce of NC. Samantha Cole invited Rachel Grossman-Zack and me to travel to Raleigh to share the LCDC story and hopefully spark interest in what can happen when people work collaboratively and creatively to solve issues.
On Monday, May 5, Rachel and I drove to Raleigh and were introduced to the task force, co-chaired by Lt. Governor Rachel Hunt, Senator Pro-Tempor James Burgin, and 25 members, which included Senators, members of the House of Representatives, as well as Director of the NC Community Colleges, Director of NC Partnerships for Children, Director of NCDHHS, and other organizations that impact children services and the workforce. Rachel and I sat in the front of the room and participated in a panel discussion with questions posed by Theresa Roedersheimer, Executive Director of NC Early Childhood Foundation.
As a deacon who brings the needs of the community to the church and then ushers the church into the world, I shared with this committee about the needs in our community for additional child care, especially for children eight weeks old to two years old as well as three to four year olds, so parents could return to the workforce. The outpouring of community members and church members involved in the redesign and construction of our existing education wing was shared, as well as the multiple sources of funding, joys, obstacles, and the challenges, including opening the center during the waning days of the COVID pandemic. It is an amazing story.
Rachel shared about the five-star rating of LCDC, daily operations, pay and benefits for the teachers and staff, as well as partnership with RCCC for education of teachers, curriculum, and care of children from eight weeks to five years old. She also discussed the funding sources at the center, detailing that the county pays about half of tuition for county employees (up to 40 children) attending LCDC, accepting DHHS vouchers for some students, NC PreK, Tri-Share, and full-pay students.
After the round table discussion, we participated in a question and answer time, followed by a break and an informal question period.
All Saints’ had space. The Cabarrus County Government had employees who needed a safe and loving place for their children, so they could go to work and be positive members of the workforce. A positive partnership was formed. This is a very important ministry at All Saints’.
Here I am, Lord. As faithful people, be open to the breeze of the Holy Spirit and where she might move us next.
If you want more information about the Lockhart Child Development Center, please reach out to Deacon Jackie Whitfield or Rachel Grossman-Zack.
In hope,
Deacon Jackie Whitfield