The U.S. Childcare Crisis: Things to Know for the 2022-23 School Year
The last few years have been difficult for everyone, including our children and school communities. Kids have been forced to adapt to new ways of learning, socializing, and attending schools. Parents are also having to reconsider their childcare options; however, with childcare being unaffordable for more than 60% of parents and more than half of families living in childcare deserts, many families struggle to find quality childcare.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the inadequacies of existing childcare options in regard to affordability, supply, and quality.
Childcare challenges have disrupted the jobs of an estimated one in three working parents, affecting their workplace attendance and performance. Without federal intervention, the U.S. could lose an estimated 50% of its licensed supply of childcare facilities, creating even more childcare deserts for families who need them.
Here are a few things to know about childcare and the upcoming school year:
Childcare Is Still Being Affected by The Pandemic
In 2020, many childcare centers were forced to close and then quickly pivot to reopen with all new safety measures. Many childcare workers not seen as essential, so they didn’t get any of the benefits while risking their own health every day and workers hurried to leave the industry. In fact, according to recent data, the childcare workforce still 11% below February 2020 numbers and many have permanently left the industry.
Reduced hours, smaller class sizes, and increased costs keep the kids and workers safe, but are putting a strain on parents who struggle to find affordable, local care for their children. Many parents actually had to choose between going to work or staying home to take care of their kids, especially after many childcare providers never reopened their doors.
Progress Is Being Made, But There’s a Long Way to Go
Today, there is bipartisan support for expanding the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), an existing federal subsidy program designed to reduce cost burdens associated with childcare. While it’s currently set to expire in 2024, it will likely be addressed again due to passing of Inflation Reduction Act in the Senate.
The good news is in the meantime, states can choose to use their CCDBG funds to stabilize providers’ finances by:
Expanding availability of grants and contracts to make them more accessible.
Collaborating with local partners who can ensure providers know how they are eligible for grants.
Increasing and stabilizing provider reimbursements.
Another form of progress is many employers are offering paid family leave and broadening access to healthcare, allowing childcare centers to provide a better environment and retain their workforce. Many employers are also offering flexible schedules and/or remote work so families can oversee their children when they aren’t at school.
Additionally, private, family demand-driven childcare innovations and funding are on the rise with goals of making childcare more accessible and affordable for families.
Health and Safety is Still Key
In the modern world, child safety is a major concern for parents and educators. Even kids are feeling the effects, with 71% of parents reporting the pandemic had taken a toll on their child’s mental health, according to the American Psychological Association. To keep your children healthy and safe, it’s important that childcare programs offer:
Supervised activities and play
Structure and routine, making the child feel safe and helping deal with stressful situations more effectively
A positive environment for building social and emotional skills
Activities and socialization to decrease criminal activity and risky behaviors while improving critical thinking and supporting making positive, healthy life decisions
Sanitary, clean spaces for play and learning
Care in a controlled, safe environment
Even with a decrease in overall childcare availability, parents can’t lose sight of the importance of feeling their child is safe and secure. Before and after care programs offer healthy socializing in secure educational environments overseen by trusted, vetted individuals that you can trust to have your kids’ best interest at heart.
Exploring Non-Traditional Childcare Options Can Provide Massive Benefits
When parents can’t find childcare and work from home, those children are often losing stimulation from age-appropriate activities that provide foundation for learning later in life. Children in quality early-learning settings help them become more prepared for kindergarten and other grades, which is a great predictor in how they perform throughout their academic career and in life.
Before and after school programs like Caliday help build student confidence, creativity, and collaboration through educational and fun curriculum and activities such as:
Homework-related assignments
Creative productions
Food and nutrition
STEM
Information technology
Interactive games
These activities help develop cooperative, collaborative, critical thinking, and other skills. The programs are flexible for parents who have early or late work hours, and for parents who want extra engagement and education for their children.
Contact Caliday
Caliday is an innovative program for children that connects them with a breadth of educational resources, individual development, and engagement outside the classroom. We offer before and after school care in Maryland that provides a safe, secure space for children to learn and grow together.
Caliday’s programs are available at schools throughout Baltimore County, Carroll County, and Harford County. Get started today, or contact us to learn more about our programs.
