Words by Smiley Team
Childcare prices have risen dramatically since the Covid pandemic began. According to statistics, parents in the United States are experiencing an average yearly cost increase of 41% for center-based childcare providers, spending an average of $14,117 annually, up from $9,977 pre-pandemic. Households with children under the age of five are the greatest affected by these increases.
This is where campaigns like Care For All Children come into play. CFAC is a nonprofit and national initiative that pushes for all children to have access to inexpensive, high-quality childcare.
It is dedicated to amplifying the choice families face in today’s childcare climate. And, over the past two years, it has managed to raise the voices of parents, grandparents, and advocates all helping to promote diverse investment in American children and families.
Executive director of Merage Foundation, Sue Renner, who provides strategic oversight for Care For All Children, tells Smiley News childcare is a "societal problem". As a former social services worker in childcare, Sue is familiar with the struggles that many working parents have with being able to afford care for their children.
“Unlike K-12 and higher education, where we realized collectively paying for that service was the way to go, there is nothing like this when it comes to early childhood," she says. "The parents are the ones to foot the bill and often this expense becomes quite the burden."
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Covid has allowed this issue to come to the forefront and sparked much debate on the issue of childcare and the working family.
A group of mothers from West Virginia, along with other advocate groups, recently went to Washington, D.C. to speak with lawmakers about the rising cost of childcare and the effects it's having on working families.
“One of the issues we have is with childcare subsidy in the US," says Sue. "We put federal dollars into helping families pay for childcare, but it is for very low-income families. Even the families who qualify, there is a small percentage who receive those services. The majority of children with parents who are under the age of five are middle to low income and do not qualify for any assistance when it comes to childcare. This is the most affected group."
Sue adds: “Covid was our silver lining and this was the opportunity where this issue has captured the attention of lawmakers and to fix this problem. Our focus is on the child tax credit and we want to make sure that it’s expanded and the amount is increased, refundable, and allows flexibility when it comes to work."
Although this is a complex issue, Sue believes America is on the right track to making the necessary changes to how childcare is handled. In 2021, Care For All Children successfully amplified the voices of parents and allies and raised awareness of the issue with policymakers.
“If you asked me five years ago I would not have believed that any progress would have been made," she says. "I truly believe we are at a tipping point in this country and it’s impossible for lawmakers to look away from this issue and I feel like people are starting to get inspired by that possibility."
JOIN: Be a part of Care For All Children by visiting the website.
PLEDGE YOUR SUPPORT: Sign the petition and contact policymakers to help the campaign make a difference for working families across the US.
FIND OUT MORE: Learn about the David and Laura Merage Foundation, which believes in the power of venture philanthropy to invest in new, sometimes unproven social impact innovation.
