COMMUNITY: COMMUNITY PARTNERS To solve the issues facing Lancaster County it requires business and community leaders at the table sharing ideas, discussing opportunities and finding solutions. This article demonstrates how business professionals and community members collaboratively leveraged their assets to solve a problem affecting our local community. While this solution helped address the immediate problem, it's also having lasting effects that will help both our future workforce and our quality of life prosper. GOOD MORNING Imagine, for a moment, the desperation of a parent who is forced to leave her young child unsupervised in the school yard in the early hours before the building opens so she can get to work on time. Then consider the struggle it is to remain focused and productive at work knowing she had to put her child's safety at great risk. She could be your employee or co-worker, or perhaps you find yourself facing this daily dilemma. A HARSH REALITY According to former Fulton Elementary School Principal, Dr. Jill Martin, "[Parents] share their stories in tears with me at the beginning of the year - mom has to be at work at 7 a.m. No one is at home. She can't afford the other child care options. The concern and anxiety about how to be sure their child safely arrives at school is overwhelming." Many Lancaster County families face this challenge - insufficient finances and other unfortunate circumstances force them to make hard decisions. While some families may qualify for assistance to help cover child care costs, many families in our community make just enough money to disqualify them for social services yet not enough to pay for necessities like child care. The demand for quality, affordable child care in Lancaster County far exceeds the 42 | LANCASTERTHRIVING! | Winter/Spring2017