Childcare Cooperatives

NCDC assists groups and communities who are exploring or have formed a cooperative business. NCDC can guide a cooperative effort from visioning to implementation. Services include facilitation, providing resources, technical assistance, and education.

The Nebraska Cooperative Development Center assists groups and communities who are exploring or have formed a cooperative business. NCDC can guide a cooperative effort from visioning to implementation. Services include facilitation, providing resources, technical assistance, and education.

Childcare is one critical industry that the cooperative model can address. There are Nebraska examples.  The Montessori Co-Op School in Omaha, Nebraska formed in 1984 and is a parent-led childcare cooperative. The Montessori Co-Op School is highlighted in a video below.

The first nonprofit childcare collaborative following cooperative bylaws was formed in Norfolk, Nebraska. The Norfolk Area Childcare Collaborative (hyperlink -https://www.norfolkchildcarecollaborative.com/) aims to close the gap in available, quality childcare, paving the way for the region and its businesses to grow by retaining and attracting talent. The collaborative has identified a building and working on renovation plans.

An informational webinar was held Nov. 2, 2024, to introduce the cooperative models in Nebraska.  

Video: Childcare Cooperatives

In the first video entitled childcare cooperatives, Kim Coontz, California Center for Cooperative Development shares background information about the reasons to form a childcare cooperative.  Each of the childcare cooperative models area also discussed in this video.

Childcare Cooperative Models

• Parent
• Workers
• Employers
• Multi-Stakeholder A combination of any or all of the above.
• Shared Service

To build awareness of the childcare cooperative model, NCDC collaborated with the California Center for Cooperative Development to update childcare educational videos that are helping to build awareness in Nebraska.

Explore different childcare cooperative models in the following bullets below.

An Overview of Childcare Cooperative Models

Parent-led Childcare Cooperatives

Parent-led Childcare Cooperatives are the most common model of childcare cooperatives. This type of cooperative is comprised of parents who have formed a cooperative to provide quality care for their children

• Dates back to early 1920s: Parent Preschools - Emerged with recognition of importance of early childhood experiences. 
• Members are parents who democratically govern the center. 
• Hire Childcare Director to lead center & oversee staff.
  • Parents often volunteer time
  • Community of parents & teachers - focus is on children
  • Low Teacher Turnover (“partnership”)

Featured Parent-led Childcare Cooperative Video
Montessori Co-op School (Nebraska)

Childcare Worker Cooperatives

Childcare Worker Cooperatives are when a group of care providers operate their own childcare center. Through employee ownership, workers benefit from increased wages, decision making power, and a share in business profits. *not eligible for tax exempt status.

• Workers are the members.
• Members democratically make policy decisions that benefit workers.
• Workers share any profits through patronage dividends.
• Ineligible for tax exempt status.

Featured Childcare Worker Cooperative Video
Child Space Day Care Center (Pennsylvania)

Employer-Assisted Childcare Consortium Model

Employer-Assisted Childcare Consortium Model - Childcare challenges contribute to worker shortages.

Benefits of Employer supported childcare:

• Recruitment
• Retention
• Reduce Absenteeism
• Boost company loyalty
• Increase Job Satisfaction
• Increase productivity

Featured Employer-Assisted Childcare Video
Energy Capital Cooperative Childcare (North Dakota)

Multi-stakeholder Cooperative Model

Multi-stakeholder Cooperative Model - A mix of the parent, worker or employer assisted - 

• Childcare is an industry where collaboration of stakeholders WORKS
• Focus of all is on quality care for children & mutual respect.
• Collaboration increases stakeholder investment and addresses crucial issue of childcare staff turnover.
• Non-profit status helps support improved wages

Featured Multi-stakeholder Cooperative Model Video
Children's Center of the Stanford Community (California)

Shared Services

Shared Services – Working with other providers to share services.

• Research & Development
• Classroom Supports
• Administrative Services
• Comprehensive Services
• Fundraising and Fund Development
• Staff recruitment & screening
• Bulk purchase of goods and services
• Human Resources