To fight Nashville’s child care crisis, residents may need to get into the child care business

The solution to Nashville’s child care shortage may be looking us in the mirror, say guests on Wednesday’s episode of This Is Nashville.

There are simply more toddlers than there are spots in daycare centers. Many parents have limited affordable options or none at all. Travis Claybrooks, CEO of the Raphah Institute, says more parents should consider becoming home-based providers for their children and others.

“We need more options to help relieve the economic stress that’s on the industry,” he says. “You can be the solution to the problem in your neighborhood.”

Home-based care also solves some logistical challenges associated with daycares. Claybrooks says they tend to be closer to a family’s home than a conventional child care center and have more flexible hours of operation.

Claybrooks’ nonprofit is receiving nearly $2 million to subsidize home-based care, starting in low-income neighborhoods. The first cohort is planned for mid-July.

Participants will receive business coaching, educational materials and help with the state licensure process, Claybrooks says. The nonprofit also plans to pay home-based caregivers to make up for what other parents can’t afford.

The grant money comes from the American Rescue Plan. In all, Nashville set aside $7.5 million for child care, administered by the United Way of Greater Nashville. Most of the money is helping stabilize a dozen child care centers that serve primarily low-income families.

“Hopefully this funding will show our officials the importance of subsidizing what the state already subsidizes for care for low-income families,” Annie Paraison, interim director of the 18th Ave Family Enrichment Center, one of the recipients. “Hopefully we can get kind of a system going that allows more access.”

In the absence of more spots, Paraison recommends creating informal “parent hubs” in which families assist each other in child care. But she also says it’s a good time to start a new daycare (here’s a how-to), despite challenges across the industry to find enough qualified staff.

Grant money is available in Tennessee for people interested in starting or expanding daycare centers. The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee has  $5 million. Applicants can receive as much as $1,000 per new child care slot.