Families Demand Child Care Investment
June 25, 2025
A recent study by our partners at Child Care Aware® of America reveals that parents across the nation are struggling to find affordable, high-quality child care. The survey shows that parents are piecing together multiple care arrangements and facing challenges balancing work and caregiving. The majority of parents believe that expanding access to affordable, quality child care should be a top priority for policymakers.
Why It Matters
High-quality child care ensures that children receive nutritious meals and enriching experiences that support their development. However, there continues to be a struggle between keeping care affordable for families and providing sufficient pay for early childhood educators. This information can be used to advocate for better funding and policies that support child care services.
The Child Care Landscape
- Complex Patchwork: 58% of parents use out-of-home care, often combining multiple arrangements. Parents prioritize safety, cleanliness, nurturing environments and brain development.
- Affordability and Accessibility: Parents struggle to find affordable and high-quality child care. This is especially difficult for mothers, stay-at-home parents, rural families and those with lower incomes.
Finding Quality, Affordable Child Care
- Challenges: 62% of parents find it hard to locate high-quality child care, and 70% struggle with affordability. These issues are more pronounced in rural areas and among families with lower incomes.
- Impact: Parents face serious problems balancing child care and work responsibilities. High costs and low wages for child care workers are significant concerns.
Broad, Bipartisan Support for Child Care Investment
- Parent Consensus: 81% of parents believe expanding access to affordable, quality child care should be a priority for policymakers. 74% think funding for child care and early learning should be increased.
- Political Agreement: Support for increased funding spans across political affiliations, with strong backing from parents in rural and small-town communities.
Parents are sending a clear message to lawmakers: investment in child care can't wait. By increasing funding and support for child care services, policymakers can help families access the high-quality, affordable care they need.
Read the report from our partners at Child Care Aware of America Families Demand Child Care Investment: What Parents Need Policymakers to Know.