Parents across Connecticut need access to affordable care
If you have a young child, you likely have a tough time finding care. It can be difficult to find a provider that fits your hours, needs – and budget.
You’re not alone. Half of surveyed Connecticut parents of children under 6 years old said they had trouble finding child care within the last year, and about 30% of parents said they spent more than three months trying to find space in a program. The search typically takes even longer if a parent is trying to find care for a child with a disability.
If you’re struggling to find care, you may live in what’s called a “child care desert.” What is a child care desert? According to The Center for American Progress, which tracks deserts nationwide, it’s a zip code where:
- At least 30 children under the age of 5 live
- There are no child care centers, or there are three times as many young children as there are child care slots
It’s estimated that 44% of Connecticut families live in a child care desert. In our state, you’re more likely to live in a desert if you are low or middle income, or live in a rural area.
According to a map tracking the issue, areas with large child care deserts in Connecticut include:
Not every neighborhood is the same. New Haven, for example, has pockets throughout the city where care is hard to find, while the zip code next to it has more options.
Access to affordable care is crucial for our economy. One in five parents have quit their job or been fired because they’ve had problems finding or affording child care, according to a state report. That can cause more stress on government programs like HUSKY or SNAP.
Often, parents have to choose the care that’s available, even if it doesn’t align with their work schedule, is far away, or isn’t the model they want (for example, if they want in-home care, instead of a center).
There’s not a one-size-fits-all answer to lowering costs. Nearly one in three early childhood educators leave the profession each year, many because they don’t make a livable wage. Many child care providers have to limit the number of children they can educate because they can’t find the staff to teach more.
Help is coming. The creation of the child care endowment is a monumental step toward affordability. The endowment will pay for the cost of public preschool programs, and will eventually expand to cover the cost of care for children under the age of five. If you are struggling to afford care, Care 4 Kids provides help based on your income and how many children are in your family. Other help is also available.
New programs are also helping to bring more early childhood educators into the profession. The Connecticut Project Action Fund pushed for a policy to allow every town to create a child care incubator. These incubators will expand care options so more parents can choose the best care option for their family.
Together, we can work to shrink child care deserts in the state. Join us to learn more.