After having a baby in 2006 and noticing some of her friends were also lacking options for childcare in rural Green County, Corrine Hendrickson decided to put her teaching degree to work and start a business: Corrine’s Little Explorers.
She didn’t make a lot of money being a childcare provider, but Corrine loved what she did and was happy to help in meeting the needs of the New Glarus community.
All of these years later, Corrine’s still taking care of kids—but only for a few more weeks.
Under Republican control, Wisconsin remains one of the few states that doesn’t dedicate state funds to childcare. Gov. Tony Evers has been using federal pandemic relief money to help keep providers afloat, but those dollars have dried up.
Childcare advocates had been pushing for state investment for years. While the recently passed 2025-27 biennial state budget includes a first-ever investment in childcare, providers like Corrine say it’s not going to add up.
✏️/🎥: Salina Heller
Author
WATCH: A commentary on Medicaid / Medicare turning 60
Founding Editor Pat Kreitlow shared some thoughts on our morning radio show last week about the recent anniversary of the creation of Medicaid and...
WATCH: How Trump’s policy change is putting undocumented children and Head Start at risk
For nearly 30 years, Head Start has welcomed all families, regardless of immigration status. The Trump administration is changing that rule—and it...
WATCH: The decision to strike down the 1849 abortion ban didn’t happen in a vacuum
Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court released a decision throwing out an 1849 statute banning abortion. In case you missed that news,...
WATCH: How the national immigration crackdown is playing out in Wisconsin
Across Wisconsin, some county jails are becoming holding sites for ICE detainees under quiet contracts that most residents never hear about. These...
