A parent is trying to finish school while raising a young child.

They’re working toward a degree and a more stable future for their family, but there’s a problem: childcare. The bills have piled up, leaving a significant balance and a constant source of stress.

Finishing school is supposed to open new doors. But without affordable childcare, getting there becomes that much harder.

It’s the kind of situation Aaron Peck has seen firsthand.

Before becoming Mixed Delivery Manager at United Way of Virginia’s Blue Ridge, Aaron worked directly with parents as a Family Coordinator. Today, he helps oversee a program designed to make quality early childhood education more accessible to families throughout our region.

And while the name “Mixed Delivery” may not tell you much about what it does, its impact can reach far beyond childcare.

So, What Is Mixed Delivery?

Mixed Delivery is a publicly funded early childhood education program that helps eligible families access quality childcare they might not otherwise be able to afford.

Rather than creating separate classrooms specifically for the program, Mixed Delivery works with existing community childcare providers. Eligible children can receive funded spots—or “slots”—at participating programs, helping reduce or, in some cases, eliminate the cost their families would otherwise pay.

That means children can access quality early learning experiences during some of the most important years of their development while parents have more affordable options for care.

For Aaron, that’s an important distinction.

Mixed Delivery isn’t simply about paying a childcare bill. It’s about removing a barrier that can affect nearly every other part of a family’s life.

Finding Child Care Is Only Part of the Challenge

Aaron learned that quickly during his time as a Family Coordinator.

“No two families have the same story,” he said.

Finding an open childcare spot can be difficult enough. But families are often balancing much more: cost, work schedules, transportation, applications, required documentation and finding a program that’s actually a good fit for their child.

For a parent already juggling work, school and raising young children, figuring out where to even begin can become overwhelming.

That’s where having someone help navigate the process can make a difference.

“Sometimes what families need most isn’t someone to solve every problem, but someone to help them take the next step,” Aaron said.

For families interested in Mixed Delivery, that process may begin through Smart2Start or with a participating childcare provider. From there, eligibility is determined, and the family and provider work through the necessary steps before a child can be enrolled in a funded slot.

What Does a “Funded Slot” Actually Mean?

It’s another phrase that makes sense inside the early childhood world but may not mean much to everyone else.

Simply put, a funded slot helps cover the cost of childcare for an eligible child.

Depending on a family’s income and eligibility, parents may pay a reduced copay rather than the full cost of tuition. The participating childcare provider receives funding for serving that child.

The result is a partnership with benefits on all sides: families gain more affordable access to childcare, providers receive funding to help serve those children, and children have access to quality early learning experiences.

But the impact doesn’t necessarily stop at the classroom door.

When Child Care Becomes One Less Thing to Worry About

Aaron still remembers the parent who was trying to finish school while carrying that significant childcare balance.

The cost had become a constant source of stress. Instead of being able to focus on completing an education and planning what came next, the parent also had to worry about how to keep paying for care.

Access to affordable child care through Mixed Delivery helped ease that burden.

With one major financial obstacle reduced, the parent could focus more attention on finishing school and creating greater stability for the family.

“Stories like that remind me that affordable childcare isn’t just about today’s needs—it’s about opening doors to future opportunities,” Aaron said.

For another family, that opportunity might mean returning to work. For someone else, it could mean accepting a promotion, completing a degree, or simply having more room in the household budget.

That’s why Aaron wishes more people understood the families behind programs like Mixed Delivery.

“Most families participating in programs like Mixed Delivery aren’t looking for a handout,” he said. “They’re working, going to school, raising children, and doing everything they can to build a better future. Sometimes they simply need childcare to be one less obstacle standing in the way.”

The Work Families Don’t See

Today, Aaron’s role looks different than it did when he worked one-on-one with families.

As Mixed Delivery Manager, he sees the larger system required to keep the program working.

Through Ready Region West, the team works with childcare providers across the region to verify eligibility, provide technical assistance, monitor state requirements, and help ensure available Mixed Delivery slots remain filled.

Much of that work happens quietly behind the scenes.

Aaron is no longer focused solely on helping one family navigate the process. He’s also looking at how to strengthen partnerships, improve processes, support participating providers, and ultimately help the program reach more families.

“The work looks different, but the goal has never changed,” he said. “It’s still about helping children and families succeed.”

What If Every Family Who Needed It Could Find Affordable Child Care?

For Aaron, the answer reaches well beyond early childhood education.

More children could enter kindergarten ready to learn. More parents could accept jobs, finish school or advance in their careers. Childcare providers could have greater financial stability to continue investing in quality programs. Employers could benefit from parents having more reliable access to care.

It’s a ripple effect that begins with a child having somewhere safe and supportive to learn—but extends to families, workplaces and the community around them.

Because access to affordable, quality childcare doesn’t just make today’s schedule a little easier…it can change what a family is able to do tomorrow.