Episode 40.5 - Unpacked: Addressing Central Iowa’s Childcare Crisis feat. Michelle Seibert

The childcare industry is in crisis. In Central Iowa, like much of the country, families struggle to find affordable, reliable care, and the educators who provide that care are often overworked, underpaid, and under-supported. It’s a system that leaves everyone losing—parents without options, children without consistent caregivers, and workers without a path to stability.But what if improving job quality for childcare providers was the key to fixing it? In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Seibert, formerly of the United Way of Central Iowa to unpack how her community is approaching this challenge. By focusing on job quality—better pay, support for self-employed providers, and stronger policies—they’re working to fix childcare from the inside out. Tune in to learn what they’re trying, what’s working, and why it could be a game changer.