Building a shared vision to increase access to high-quality child care in support of Kentucky’s children, families, and economy is the focus of a new statewide initiative. The Kentucky Collaborative on Child Care will convene a stakeholder group of leaders from different backgrounds and empower them with professional support as they work to find consensus around durable, long-term solutions to child care challenges in the Commonwealth.

The Collaborative is a partnership between the Kentucky Chamber Foundation, the Kentucky Chamber Center for Policy and Research, and the Converge Center for Policy Resolution. The initiative is supported by the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation.

“With less than half of young Kentucky kids meeting Kindergarten readiness standards and continuing challenges with low workforce participation in the Commonwealth, we need consensus-driven solutions to increase access to high-quality child care,” said Ashli Watts, President and CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “Convening is one of the Chamber’s key strengths, and we are proud to dedicate our resources in the Chamber Foundation and Center for Policy and Research to empower this new collaborative to work together on behalf of Kentucky’s kids, families, and economy.”

Leveraging Convergence’s evidence-based methodology to forge solutions, this stakeholder group will work together over the next six months to identify clear points of consensus and build a unified vision for increasing access to high-quality child care.

“At Convergence, we excel at uniting people across divides and sectors to tackle complex challenges,” said Mariah Levison, CEO and President of Convergence. “Our approach focuses on identifying ripe, amendable issues, convening diverse voices, and fostering trust to lay a strong foundation for agreement. By embracing a wide range of perspectives, we often uncover wiser, more durable solutions. I am confident that this group can achieve consensus and drive meaningful, positive change for child care in Kentucky.”

The stakeholder group will bring a variety of perspectives to drive the Collaborative’s work and ensure diverse viewpoints are represented. The group will include expertise in early childhood education, business, health care, K-12 and postsecondary education, economic and workforce development, state and local tax policy, human resources, government affairs, public policy, the nonprofit sector, philanthropy, and more.

Bringing this stakeholder group together and setting them up for success would not be possible without the critical support of the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation.

“Access to high-quality child care is fundamental to the well-being and future success of our children, families, and communities. In Kentucky, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive from an early age is more than a priority—it’s a necessity,” said Ashley Novak Butler, Executive Director of Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation. “By supporting robust child care systems and families in need, we are not only shaping the next generation of leaders but also laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient Kentucky. We must come together to forge a path forward, where every child, regardless of their background, has access to the resources and care they need to reach their full potential.”

The Kentucky Chamber Foundation and Center for Policy and Research will work together to provide logistical, strategic, and research support to the project. The Center for Policy and Research has previously produced research on the connections between access to high-quality child care and workforce participation and has played a key role in policy conversations on the topic in Frankfort and nationally.

The Center for Policy and Research has partnered with Convergence prior to this new initiative, with Dr. Charles Aull, Executive Director of the Center, participating in the Convergence Collaborative on Supports for Working Families since 2023. That project included major think tanks and advocacy organizations from across the country and focused on issues impacting working families. Its success helped pave the way for the new Kentucky Collaborative on Child Care.

About the Kentucky Chamber Foundation

The Kentucky Chamber Foundation supports research, programs and training initiatives that advance the economic and social well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Learn more about the Kentucky Chamber Foundation here.

About the Kentucky Chamber Center for Policy and Research

Established in 2022, the Kentucky Chamber Center for Policy and Research drives solutions to complex economic and public policy issues in Kentucky through high-quality research and analysis. The Center has become a go-to resource for decisionmakers across the state looking to solve some of Kentucky’s most pressing challenges. The Center’s work has been at the center of statewide conversations on key issues such as tax reform, workforce development, the housing crisis, and more. Learn more about the Center for Policy and Research here.

About the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution

Convergence is the leading organization bridging divides to solve critical issues. Through our time-tested collaborative problem-solving methodology, we bring people together across ideological, political, and identity lines to improve the lives of Americans and strengthen democracy. For more information, visit convergencepolicy.org.

About Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation

The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation, founded by David and Wendy Novak in 1999, is a private family foundation dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to reach their full potential. Originally founded as a charitable trust, the Foundation has been dedicated to providing grants and scholarships to those in need.

The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation partners with organizations that possess strong leadership, expertise, and a deep passion for their work to empower communities and uplift lives. The Novak family’s philanthropic passions are reflected in their focus on student leadership development, food insecurity, early childhood education, juvenile (type 1) diabetes, and support for military families. For more information, please visit www.liftalifefoundation.org.