Policy Pick: New Report Finds Affordable Child Care Shortage in CaliforniaDecember 19, 2011 |
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 Working families with young children are finding it harder to afford quality child care, according to a report released last week. The 2011 California Child Care Portfolio, issued by the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network, reported that the closure of numerous child care agencies throughout California have made it more difficult for families to secure child care services. The worsening economy, coupled with state budget cuts, is threatening the stability of child care programs and causing a drop in the number of licensed child care facilities available in California. As a result, available child care falls far short of demand. Licensed care in California is available for only 25 percent of children with parents in the labor force. From 2008 to 2010, 28 counties experienced a decrease in center-based slots, while 40 counties saw significant numbers of licensed family child care homes close. "I was troubled to learn from the data that family child care providers are going out of business statewide," said Assemblymember Holly Mitchell (D- Los Angeles). "The loss of these small businesses makes daily life tougher on our families, communities and economy." Families in Los Angeles County are especially hard hit by the shortage in affordable child care: The County lost almost 3,000 slots in licensed child care centers between 2008 and 2010. Of these, approximately 1,700 were preschool or infant slots. The report also notes that more than 29,000 children are on waitlists to receive a child care subsidy. Child care costs in L.A. County also trends higher than the state average, with full-time preschool care tagged at $8,140 - compared to the state average of $7,856. The report was released just hours before Gov. Jerry Brown's announcement on Tuesday that $980 million in trigger cuts - including an additional $23 million reduction to child care programs - will take effect Jan. 1. Additional Information: California Child Care Resource and Referral Network's Donita Stomgren's interview |
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