Expanding the Circle of Care: A Campaign for Oconto Falls
Nearly two years ago, Encompass Executive Director Missy Schmeling embarked on a journey to grow our circle of care at Encompass. Almost immediately, she heard from key community stakeholders in the Oconto County and Oconto Falls regions. The message was loud and clear: child care was desperately needed to support children and families in this growing community as well as the industries struggling to find workers. Forging partnerships, Missy was able create a vision that is now being brought to life in the 8th Encompass Center in Oconto Falls. Through the support of Encompass donors, partners and friends as well as new partners in Oconto Falls, we have been able to raise 55% of our fundraising goal for the renovation of the Oconto Falls Center.
We need your help to reach our goal and cross the finish line - and every gift matters! Click here to donate or contact Alexa Priddy, Director of Fund Development, to discuss making a 3-5 year pledge: apriddy@encompasswi.org or 920-785-9715.
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
Opening our 8th Encompass Center in Oconto Falls will allow us to further our educational mission and improve the quality of life in the northeastern Wisconsin region through 1) the provision of high-quality accessible and affordable childcare, and 2) closing the gap of the "childcare desert" in the Oconto Falls region. With these goals achieved through the opening of the Encompass Center in Oconto Falls, we will be able to sustain the following long-term goals in the region:
Preparing Children for Success:
For over 100 years, Encompass has been a nonprofit focused on providing high-quality care regardless of socio-economic or housing status. The 5-star curriculum Encompass brings to a community helps set children up for success and allows families to remain in the workforce. Achieve Brown County data shows a decline in 3rd-grade reading competencies in our region and a need for children to develop in early education in order to have every child proficient at 3rd-grade reading. To fall short of this means a child will be four times more likely to not graduate high school by age 19.
Increased Childcare Spaces:
By bringing high-quality care to the Oconto Falls region, we will be lifting up student success and ensuring that our children now are ready to be the leaders of tomorrow. In all of Oconto Co., there are only 13 childcare providers and 273 childcare spaces. With the 140 spaces that Encompass will add, there will be a 51.3% increase in childcare spaces, and Encompass will provide 33% of the total spaces. This will bring significant opportunity to families who couldn’t work due to lack of care.
Access to High-Quality, Affordable Care:
Access to high-quality early education is a key indicator of success in school and provides an equal starting point for all children, regardless of their family background. Families in need who come to Encompass are provided with opportunities for tuition assistance so they don't pay more than 15% of their household income on childcare. We also provide families with basic needs support - food, clothing, transportation assistance - through the Child & Family Advocate Program. In addition, DCF states only 46% of the 273 childcare spaces in Oconto Co. are “high quality, having earned a 3-5 star quality rating.” Encompass brings high-quality care that is 5-star rated by WI's rating system and the highest measure of quality through accreditation with the National Association for Education of Young Children.
New Jobs & Economic Impact:
Encompass will create 20 full-time jobs with pay starting at $16.50/hour with benefits. Using Chmura’s economic impact model, a childcare center creating 20 new jobs in Oconto Co. will have a total direct, indirect and induced output of over $1.67M annually.