Affordable Childcare: Families Deserve Better
Why We Need Child Care
Parents and families need child care to work, care for loved ones, recharge, and participate in their communities. Children deserve safe, high-quality care that supports their development.
- Universal Access: Every family should have access to child care, no matter where they live, their income, or the language they speak at home.
- Full Access: Families have different work schedules, community support systems and resources. Childcare must be available before and after school and during summer breaks.
- Valuing Educators: Early childhood educators are skilled professionals who deserve fair wages to support themselves and their families.
- Essential Workforce: Early childhood educators are crucial for our families, communities, and the economy.
THE PROBLEM
Historical Inequities
The child care workforce is overrepresented by women of color who are skilled but earning lower wages often without benefits or career ladder. According to the Center for American Progress, data shows that the workforce is 57%, non-hispanic white women; 16.7% Black women; and 16.4% Hispanic women.
Childcare access is getting worse
In 2018 more than half the country was designated as a child care desert – maintaining programs, employing workers and community investments continue the lag.
Misguided Views
Some lawmakers think child care is a personal problem that families must solve on their own.
Systemic Struggles
Child care providers struggle to offer quality care because the system doesn’t support the wages they need.
Widespread Impact
The child care crisis affects everyone, not just parents. It impacts businesses, public services, and social activities.
THE SOLUTION
Prioritize Funding
Lawmakers need to fund a child care system that pays providers fairly, offers living wages, health and retirement benefits, and career ladder options.
Congressional Action
Congress must fund a system that benefits kids, providers, communities, and the economy. Fair taxes on the wealthy are needed to fund childcare that is effective for working families.
Universal Access
Ensure every family has access to needed child care, helping workers do their best.
Community Support
A well-funded system supports parents in their communities, care for families, and self-care.
KEY DATA POINTS
- Workforce Participation: Two-thirds of kids from birth to age 12 have all parents in the workforce. More parents would work if good child care was available.
- Mothers in the Workforce: Without affordable child care, parents, especially mothers, leave the workforce or reduce hours, sacrificing long-term earnings. In 2023, 68.9 percent of mothers with children under age 6 participated in the labor force, compared with 77.8 percent of mothers whose youngest child was ages 6 to 17.
- Affordability Crisis: Child care is too expensive for many families. Low-income families are spending an average of 28% of their income on child care.
- Shortage of Slots: In 2021, 12.3 million kids had all parents working, but there were only 8.7 million licensed child care slots, leaving a shortage of 3.6 million.
- Economic Impact: The U.S. loses $122 billion each year due to lack of child care. States lose between $500 million and $3.5 billion annually. Employers lose $23 billion due to child care challenges faced by their workforce.
BILL WE’RE TRACKING
Together, we can create a child care system that supports every family, pays providers fairly, and strengthens our communities and economy.