CCRC is committed to keeping you in the know. That’s why we felt it was important to share the main points covered in the newly released Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2016 Report by Child Care Aware® of America with you.

This year’s report presents an overview of the child care landscape and the strategies that states and communities are using to help parents afford child care.

What’s the report about?

The report covers the cost of child care and the effect of high costs on families, as well as the importance of child care as an early learning program and workforce support. It addresses topics like why child care is a sound investment and how lack of child care costs families more than lost wages. Companies with on-site child care and flexible/family leave policies are also highlighted.

What do this year’s findings reveal?

More than 11 million children under age five are in some form of child care in the United States. According to the 2016 report, child care remains one of the largest expenses in a family budget, often exceeding the cost of college tuition, transportation, housing, or food.

For the 10th year in a row, the report shows a trend in lack of access to affordable, quality child care.

What’s the cost of child care in my state?

The Child Care Aware of America site states that, “The cost of child care varies widely across states, and the cost of living in each state also affects the affordability of child care for families.” Use the organization’s Cost of Child Care Map to look at the cost and affordability of child care across states.

How can I help bring more attention to the high cost of child care?

CCRC and Child Care Aware of America is calling on parents, concerned citizens, and early care professionals to urge federal and state legislators to address the high cost of quality child care by:

– Providing resources for planning and developing child care capacity to increase the availability of high quality child care options for working families.

– Requiring states to have more effective sliding-fee assistance phase-out plans to ensure that parents who receive a modest raise do not lose all child care assistance.

– Providing child care assistance to families who do not qualify for fee assistance but who cannot afford the market cost of child care in their community.

You can find more information about child care options and providers in your area by visiting the Child Care Aware website

To read the full Parents and the High Cost of Child Care: 2016 report by Child Care Aware® of America, please click here.