Child care is essential infrastructure—families rely on it so they can work, children rely on it for stability and care, and entire communities depend on it to function day to day. During disasters, the child care system faces a unique set of challenges that can disrupt care quickly and make recovery difficult without strong support. 

Stress, burnout, and emotional exhaustion are not new challenges for the child care workforce—but they are reaching new levels of urgency. In a field already marked by long hours, low wages, and high turnover, the mental health of child care workers is more than a personal wellness issue—it’s a system stability issue. 

Across the early care and education (ECE) landscape, there is growing momentum to support the adults who care for children—not only in moments of crisis, but as a core strategy for building resilient systems. When we invest in workforce well-being, we reinforce the very conditions that allow children to thrive.