Community Childcare Needs Survey
Your input shapes the future of childcare in our county. This survey takes about 8–12 minutes. All responses are anonymous and will be used to identify gaps, inform policy, and support funding decisions.
About You
Which best describes your role in the community?
Parent or guardian of a child under 13
Expecting parent or planning to have children
Childcare Provider or administrator
Community Resident (no children in childcare)
Other (advocate, educator, policymaker, etc.)
Which area of LaBelle do you live in?
City of LaBelle (incorporated city limits)
Unincorporated LaBelle
North LaBelle
Port LaBelle
Clewiston
Other
Ideally, childcare facilities would best meet my needs if they were located in:
City of LaBelle (city limits)
Unincorporated LaBelle
North LaBelle
Port LaBelle
Clewiston
Other
Primary language spoken at home:
English
Spanish
Haitian Creole
Other
Prefer not to say
Do you identify as migrant or seasonal farmworker household?
Yes
No
Prefer not to say
Access & Availability
How would you describe childcare access in your area?
There are enough options-I can find care when I need it
There are some options, but they fill up quickly
Very limited options-it is difficult to find any care
I cannot find childcare that meets my family’s needs
Not applicable to my situation
Have you or someone in your household been placed on a waiting list in the last 3 years?
Yes
No
N/A/Have not applied
If
yes
, how long was the wait?
Less than 1 month
1-3 months
3-6 months
Longer than 6 months
Still waiting/never got a spot
Which groups are hardest to find care in Hendry County?
Infants (0-12 months)
Toddlers (1-2 years)
Preschool (3-4 years)
School-age (5-12 years)
Children with disabilities
Children with medical needs
Not sure
What types of childcare are most lacking in your community?
Licensed daycare centers
Family home daycare
Before/after school programs
Head start/Early Head Start
Employer-sponsored care
Drop-in/flexible care
Special needs programs
Affordability & Financial Barriers
How much of your household's monthly income goes toward childcare costs?
Less than 7%
7-15%
15-25%
More than 25%- a significant financial burden
I currently pay nothing (subsidy/family care)
I don’t use paid childcare
Is transportation or distance an issue to accessing childcare?
Yes
No
N/A
Have you ever reduced work hours, declined a job, changed careers or left the workforce due to childcare costs?
Yes, I reduced my hours
Yes, I declined a job or promotion
Yes, I left the workforce entirely
Yes, I changed careers
No, but it is a constant financial strain
No, this hasn’t affected my work situation
N/A
On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being Very Easy and 5 being Extremely difficult, how difficult is it to access information about financial assistance programs for childcare?
1
2
3
4
5
Are you currently receiving any financial assistance for childcare? (Select all that apply)
School readiness (SR) subsidy
Head Start/Early Head Start
Voluntary Pre-K (VPK)
SNAP/WIC benefits
Employer assistance
None- I am not aware of options
I applied but was denied
I was on a waitlist for assistance
On a scale of 1-5, with 1 being Very Easy and 5 being Extremely difficult, how difficult is it to access financial assistance programs for childcare in Hendry County?
1
2
3
4
5
What would help most with childcare affordability in your situation? (Top 2-3)
Expanded subsidy eligibility
Sliding scale fees
Employer sponsored childcare benefits
More affordable center options
Better awareness of existing programs
Hours & Scheduling Gaps
What are your primary childcare hours needed? (Select all that apply)
Standard weekday (6am-6pm)
Early morning (before 6 am)
Evening (6-10pm)
Overnight / 24 hour care
Weekends
Rotating/unpredictable shifts
Before/After School
Summer/school break only
Part time/drop-in
N/A
Do you or does your household work non-traditional or shift-based hours?
Yes-I work evening/overnight/rotating shifts
Yes-agricultural/seasonal schedule
Yes-weekend required
No-standard weekday hours
How difficult is it to find childcare that meets your work schedule?
Not Difficult
Difficult
No problem
Limited options
No options
Have scheduling gaps in childcare caused any of the following? (Select all that apply)
Missing work shifts
Leaving children with unreliable care
Relying on older siblings for care
Leaving children unsupervised
Turning down job opportunities
Quitting or losing a job
None of the above
Please describe your ideal childcare schedule or any gaps/issues you face that aren't captured above.
Employer perspectives
This section is especially for employers and HR representatives, but all respondents may answer.
Workforce, recruitment, and retention impact
What is the approximate size of your organization in Hendry County?
1-10 employees
11-50 employees
51-200 employees
200+ employees
Not an employer, N/A
Has your organization experienced recruitment or retention challenges you believe are related to childcare availability?
Yes- frequently
Yes-occasionally
Not sure/Not tracked
No-it hasn’t been a factor
Not applicable
Which childcare-related workforce issues has your organization observed?
Absenteeism due to childcare breakdown
Candidates declining job offers citing childcare
Employees leaving the workforce
Difficulty filling shift-based roles
Reduced productivity from childcare stress
None observed
Does your organization currently offer any childcare-related employee benefits?
Dependent care FSA
Childcare subsidy or reimbursement
Flexible scheduling
On-site childcare
Remote work options
Referrals/resource navigation
None currently
How interested would your organization be in participating in a collaborative childcare solution (e.g., shared employer-sponsored center, voucher program, information sharing)? 1 being not interested, 5 being very interested
1
2
3
4
5
Additional comments on how childcare affects your workforce:
Childcare provider needs
This section is especially for childcare providers and administrators, but all respondents may answer based on their knowledge of local providers.
Staffing, licensing, capacity, and sustainability
What is your provider type? (Select all that apply)
Licensed childcare center
Family home childcare (licensed)
Faith based childcare
Head Start/Early Head Start grantee
School based program
Informal/Unlicensed childcare
N/A-not a provider
What are the biggest challenges your program currently faces? (Select top 3)
Finding and retaining qualified staff
Staff compensation/wages
Licensing & regulatory burden
Facility space/physical capacity
Financial sustainability/low reimbursement rates
Access to professional development
Meeting needs of children with disabilities
Language/cultural barriers with families
Transportation for children
Does your program currently operate at full capacity?
Yes- we are full and have a waitlist
Mostly full but have some openings
At about 50-75% capacity
Below 50% capacity- we have signifi cant openings
N/A-not a provider
Below 50% capacity- we have significant openings
If you could expand capacity, what would be the greatest barrier to doing so?(Select all that apply)
Not enough staff to hire
Insufficient physical space
Startup/capital costs
Reimbursement rates don’t cover costs
Licensing/zoning requirements
N/A-not looking to expand
What types of support would most help childcare providers in Hendry County thrive? (Select all that apply)
Wage supplement for early educators
Streamlined licensing process
Facility grants/low interest loans
Shared services/back-office support
Training and credential pathways
Business coaching for home providers
Peer networks and mentorships
Substitutes/Float staff pool
Is your program currently accepting School Readiness (SR) or other subsidized families?
Yes-and we have open SR slots
Yes-but we are at SR capacity
No-reimbursement rates are too low
No-not enrolled as a provider
N/A
Gaps & final comments
Which populations do you believe are most underserved by current childcare in Hendry County? (Select all that apply)
Infants under 12 months
Children with special needs/disabilities
Children of farmworkers/migrant families
Spanish speaking families
Haitian creole speaking families
Single parent households
Families in the unincorporated areas (Port LaBelle, Banyan, north LaBelle, etc)
Families working non-traditional hours
Teen parents
Families experiencing homelessness
On a scale of 1–5, how urgent is the need to expand childcare options in Hendry County?
1
2
3
4
5
If two or three new resources could be created or funded in Hendry County, what would make the biggest difference?
A new licensed childcare center in an underserved area.
Extended hours care (weekends, nights, overnight)
More financial assistance/expanded subsidy program
Better wages/support for childcare workers
Employer-community partnerships for sponsored childcare
A childcare resource navigator/central registry
Would you be willing to participate in a follow-up focus group or interview?
Yes-please contact me
Maybe- send me information first
No, but thank you
If you'd like us to follow up with you, please share your contact information(optional):
Any additional comments, stories, or specific challenges you'd like decision-makers to know about?
Contact Information