Childcare shortage stunts community development

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

By Mark Homer

Wyoming families are challenged to find childcare solutions in an economic climate that often demands that all available parents join the workforce. To improve the quality of life in Wyoming and enhance prospects for sustainable and diversified economic development, it is critical for children to have equal access to high quality early care and education.

To help put the childcare shortage in perspective, imagine UW’s War Memorial Stadium filled to capacity with an additional 7,713 on the field - 40,293 kids. This is the Wyoming KIDS COUNT estimate of children who use, or would potentially use, childcare services if it were available: 48 percent of all children age 0-12. The problem is that there are only 17,565 “seats” available for all these kids, roughly half the stadium.
The most critical shortage of licensed care is for children ranging in age from 0-24 months. In 2006, there were a maximum of 2257 licensed slots for as many as 6478 children competing for these slots. There is also a very short supply of childcare slots for kids age 6-12, with only 2803 slots for an estimated 21,500 children.

Compounding the problem is the lack of extended hour care, a problem that affects parents and employers alike. Many parents must work shift work and long hours just to make ends meet, juggling schedules that require them to work late nights, early mornings, weekends, and holidays. Most Wyoming communities have no capacity or virtually no capacity to meet the need for extended hours care.

The childcare shortage is a challenge for every Wyoming County, ranging from an 82 percent shortfall in Sweetwater County to a 50 percent shortfall in Albany County. Stunned by these numbers, I picked up the phone and dialed every licensed childcare providers in Rock Springs - all 21 of them. My story was that I would need half-day care for a 20-month-old girl and afterschool care for a 7-year-old boy. The results of my informal survey would be discouraging for a family thinking of relocating. One provider said, “I am full for the next several years.”

While the childcare shortage may discourage hardworking families from relocating to Wyoming, it also destabilizes families that are already here. A 2006 Child Care Needs Assessment commissioned by the Department of Workforce Services summarized the consequences of ignoring the childcare shortage: “For incoming workers with families, childcare is increasingly regarded as an essential service by parents who desire to pursue and maintain full-time jobs. If the availability of childcare constrains the potential opportunity to work and earn income, these family households will likely relocate to another community or state where child care is more readily available.”

As childcare providers, lawmakers and community leaders work to increase childcare capacity it is also important to raise the bar and early care and education opportunities are high quality in nature. A 2007 Economic Policy Institute (EPI) study shows that state governments will reap huge savings in remedial education, law enforcement and child welfare if children receive better early care and education opportunities. The study makes clear that states also will realize higher tax revenues from these more productive citizens over time.

Communities that focus on raising good kids will naturally celebrate their success in life. We in Wyoming should rise to the challenge and follow community leaders who are working to make quality early care and education available to all children.

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Childcare shortage stunts community development | Planet JH News Article: Editorial

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