2023 Annual Report Final No Bleeds - Flipbook - Page 22
CHILD CARE
WAGE$® TENNESSEE
The WAGE$ program is changing the landscape of early
childhood by offering education-based salary supplements to
early childhood educators. The aim of the program is to increase
the retention rate of educators in the oeld and incentivize them
for acquiring postsecondary education.
Combating Growing Waitlists
Kristen Cannon, Executive Director of the Children9s Center
of Knoxville, has a waitlist of over 200 children. She said they
simply don9t have the stafong capacity to adequately serve those
families on the waitlist, but that the WAGE$ program is a great
recruitment tool for getting experienced, qualioed staff through
the doors.
$5,029,491
In supplements distributed