FAIRMONT– The Prosper Project, a program funded by The Schmeeckle Foundation which aims to address the childcare shortage in Martin County, is moving forward with the addition of a new coordinator role that was recently filled by Samantha Chukuske.

Eric Snyder, a facilitator of the project, explained that two of The Schmeeckle Foundation’s primary funding initiatives are to support area youth and older adults. A few years ago that focus led them to look at early childcare.

“It’s important to make sure young kids are prepared for school and well-prepared for life. It’s also good for the local economy because it helps ensure parents can participate in the workforce and employers have all of the employees they need,” Snyder explained.

He cited a study done about three years ago that identified a need for an additional 170 child care slots in Martin County.

Soon after that, the Prosper Project was created with a $250,000 grant from The Schmeeckle Foundation. The two main goals behind the project are to recruit new people into the childcare field and preserve and support the existing licensed providers.

“Our latest initiative around Prosper was to create a local program coordinator role who would be the face of Prosper and help recruit new people and also play a supporting role for our current licensed providers,” Snyder said.

Samantha Chukuske, a licensed child-care provider in Welcome, was selected to fill the role.

“We would like her to be a resource for new people getting into the field to navigate the licensure process,” Snyder said.

He said she would also have knowledge of the local programs and scholarship programs for people who want to get into the field. Once licensed, Chukuske would be a mentor to the new providers.

For those who are already established, Chukuske would play the role of convening regular gatherings to create a stronger sense of community so providers can talk about challenges and Prosper can help them address those.

“We’re excited because it’s great to have a local face for the program,” Snyder said.

Chukuske started her childcare business, Treetop Adventures, in September 2016 out of her home in Welcome.

She said when Prosper came out, she was signed up to partake in the program as an existing provider. Through her involvement, it was decided it would be nice to have someone local involved so Chukuske was offered the role of coordinator. It’s a role she’s very excited about.

“When I started childcare almost six years ago, I didn’t have the support or community resources or anywhere to go to find the help I needed. The big thing for me is I want to be there to support new providers and help people who have been in it for a year or 10 years,” Chukuske said.

As a provider in the county, Chukuske is painfully aware of the shortage of child care providers and the limited openings in the county.

“It’s disheartening when we get phone calls. I’m not the only one. We have to say, ‘sorry, I’m full,'” Chukuske said.

While some providers have waitlists, Chukuske said she doesn’t keep info because she fills up so quickly.

She estimates she knows about half of the providers in the county and has been in contact with them. She looks forward to getting to know more of them and helping in any way she can.

Of the many roles Chukuske has, she’s also a certified trainer, which allows her to train other child care providers around the state. She often gives training on licensing requirements.

“I train quite a few places in Southwest Minnesota,” Chukuske said, adding that she’s gone to Windom to offer a training this week.

Locally, she said there were two trainings in March and one in April and none scheduled right now, though there will no doubt be some in the future.

“We want to do something quarterly for the providers that are already licensed and one of the ideas is to offer trainings,” Chukuske said.

One of Chukuske’s first duties that she’s excited about is hosting a gathering for local childcare providers that Prosper is sponsoring on May 6 for National Childcare Provider Appreciation day.

“It was important for me that we do something. Not anything fancy, but a social hour in honor of them,” Chukuske said.

More information about the Prosper Project can be found at prospermc.com. Chukuske can be reached at samantha@prospermc.com.