Child Care

A Stronger Child Care System Makes Good Economic Sense

Our ability to increase access to quality affordable child care is foundational to reducing poverty, creating economic mobility and ultimately the prosperity of our county. 

Six WHYs for child care access and expansion:

1. For parents to be able to work, support their families (and as COVID-19 has explicitly demonstrated), their communities, child care is vitally important. 
2. The pandemic clearly highlighted the number of workers who are truly “essential” and required to be onsite in health care, food and agricultural production, elder care, food banks, grocery stores, warehouses, delivery services, child care providers and more. 
3. Employers need reliable and productive employees which means those with reliable/affordable child care.
4. Licensed child care centers and family child care homes are small businesses that contribute to the local economy.
5. These small businesses are often women-owned and are community anchors that strengthen neighborhoods. 
6. Young children who receive quality child care (which includes early learning and developmental screenings) are on a trajectory for success in school and life. 

Bottom line: to reduce poverty, create an inclusive economy and better quality of life for more children and families we need a strong and sustainable child care system.

Child Care Resources