Licensed child care is in short supply, but Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies can help
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) released its new report, Closing the Gap: How CCR&Rs Can Help Communities Meet Their Child Care Supply and Demand Needs, detailing how states are grappling with the inadequate supply of child care. This report highlights several examples of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) and state-level advocacy organizations working to close gaps in their states and communities.
Over the past two years, CCAoA mapped child care supply and demand in nine states through our Mapping the Gap™ project. We found that in communities large and small, the supply for child care too often falls short of meeting the demand; the number of open slots is fewer than the number needed for child care.
CCR&Rs work tirelessly to fill the gaps between child care supply and demand in their states and communities. Because they work closely with both sides of the supply and demand equation – helping parents locate child care and helping providers open businesses and improve quality – CCR&Rs and partners are a critical part of the solution for closing child care gaps across the country.
“As the primary drivers of building child care supply, CCR&Rs offer a robust infrastructure and are poised to offer effective solutions for addressing child care supply and demand gaps across the country,” said Lynette M. Fraga, Executive Director of CCAoA. “They also provide valuable data to business owners, policymakers and other community stakeholders so they can make informed decisions to better meet families’ needs. Families across the country need child care programs that help young children develop, promote healthy habits for life, and allow parents and guardians to contribute to the economy without worrying about their children’s safety.”
A 2018 Child Care Aware® of America survey found CCR&Rs exist in 47 states and the District of Columbia and 100 percent of them receive funding from the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The survey also revealed that nearly 9 of 10 CCR&Rs employ strategies to increase the supply of child care, yet less than half (44 percent) receive targeted public funding to support this work.
Members of Congress from both parties are raising awareness of the supply crisis outlined in the report, as well as the need for bipartisan solutions to address it. “As the demand for child care continues to increase in Southwest Washington and across the country, the number of quality care providers has dwindled, setting up a crisis for working families who are struggling to find and afford care for their kids,” said Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler (R – WA, 3rd District). “I appreciate Child Care Aware of America’s leadership on this pressing national need, and am pleased to join my colleagues in Congress on multiple bipartisan solutions that would support working parents by helping increase availability and affordability of child care.”
“In Illinois, a year of child care costs as much as a year of college tuition – it’s not only outrageous, it’s a crisis for families across the state and country,” Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D – IL, 17th District) said. “I’m committed to working with both parties to find real solutions to bring down the cost of child care. And at a time when demand outpaces supply, Child Care Resource and Referral agencies are a critical tool to help families find quality, accessible child care – I commend Child Care Aware of America for their important work on this issue.” Child Care Aware® of America joins both Congresswomen in calling on legislators at the local, state and national levels to take bold action to fully fund this important work.
For 30 years, CCAoA has been the leading voice for quality, affordable child care in the United States. CCAoA continues to pursue our vision of a future in which every family in the country has access to a high-quality and affordable child care system. To learn more about Child Care Aware® of America’s advocacy efforts, visit childcareworks.org or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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About Child Care Aware® of America
Child Care Aware® of America is our nation’s leading voice for child care. CCAoA works with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) and other community partners to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. CCAoA leads projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offers comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertakes research, and advocates for child care policies that improve the lives of children and families. To learn more, visit usa.childcareaware.org. Follow CCAoA on Twitter @USAChildCare and on Facebook at facebook.com/usachildcare.