Birmingham, Ala. (WBMA) — Finding child care for young children is a problem faced by many parents in our state. The Alabama Childcare Roadmap, released in early 2024, found that there is a 40% gap between need and supply statewide.
A new start-up in the city of Birmingham wants to help meet the need. Moxi Childcare opens its first facility in the heart of downtown Birmingham.
The company offers flexible planning options for parents with more sporadic childcare needs.
“Many families don’t need full-time childcare. You don't need five days a week. They have a family member who wants to look after their child, or maybe they work from home part-time, or they have their own business.” Fain-Forrest said: “They just need reliable child care that is available exactly when they need it they need.”
Parents can book a place for their child every week without having to deal with a waiting list. You can also book the day through the company's booking app. This is possible through the company's membership model.
“Imagine child care that you can use four days a year, four days a week, or, you know, four hours. We have that available [parents]“ said Fain-Forrest, “You become a member of Moxi and we will secure your place for you.”
Experts who advocate for child care say this could be just one way to adjust child care across the country.
“We're really a pretty spontaneous community right now and this brings childcare into that realm,” said Holly Glasgow,
Efforts to find solutions to the child care deficit have been discussed at the state level. Alabama lawmakers recently approved state tax breaks for companies that help their employees afford child care.
Glasgow believes efforts must start at the local level.
“We have to think about why we need it [childcare] and how we need it [childcare.] “It really comes down to solving some of these community issues that we solve at the local level and then start addressing them at the state level,” Glasgow said.
The daycare is expected to open its first location in Birmingham next year at 2229 1st Avenue N. The facility will have the capacity to care for 60 to 70 children per day.
The company will also open a location in Homewood in the near future.