What if solving the childcare crisis required rethinking not just funding, but the entire workforce model?

In this episode of the Thinking CAAP podcast, Beck Moore and Heather Holloway are joined by Rachelle Abbott, President & CEO of STEP, Inc., and Meghann McBryan, Special Projects Coordinator, to unpack how one Community Action agency turned a regional staffing crisis into a sustainable, scalable solution.

You'll hear how STEP's Substitute Aid Pool program (originally funded by ARPA dollars) leverages gig-style scheduling, streamlined technology, and collaborative community partnerships to place trained classroom aides exactly where they're needed. From onboarding to scheduling to retention, Meghann and Rachelle break down the real-world impact and what it takes to operationalize innovation in early childhood education.

Together, the team explores:

• Why livable wages and workforce equity are central to solving the childcare crisis

• How data and community needs assessments fueled this project's design

• What other regions can learn from STEP's success—and how to scale it

Whether you're a nonprofit leader, policy advocate, or early learning professional, this episode offers an actionable look at the future of childcare support through the lens of Community Action.

Discover more about the Thinking CAAP podcast: https://www.thecaap.org/the-thinkingcaap-podcast-blog