Access to child care is imperative
Today's families are busier than ever, often needing more than one income and desperately needing child care.
A 2021 NPR poll found that 34% of families with young children face serious problems finding child care when adults need to work. The poll also found that 44% of households with children under age 18 face serious financial problems. That figure jumps to 63% for Black families and 59% for Latino households. While high-quality, safe child care for young children is expensive, the U.S. spends less public money on early childhood education and care than most other wealthy nations.
These alarming statistics were reinforced when the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester commenced a 100plus-person interview process to learn what changes in our community were required to make Greater Worcester a champion of health equity. Access to affordable, high-quality child care quickly emerged as a policy priority.
The legacy of structural racism in Worcester has created neighborhoods with high concentrations of people of color, low Child Opportunity Index scores and low access to critical early education and care resources. In Worcester, there are EEC deserts in the Bell Hill, Main South and Vernon Hill neighborhoods. Parents experience systemic barriers to accessing EEC in these neighborhoods.
As the largest community health coalition in Central Massachusetts, we support access to affordable, high-quality child care for all families, as outlined in the Common Start plan for Massachusetts.
Affordable, high-quality child care plays a pivotal role in promoting early childhood development, which has a profound impact on long-term health and well-being. During the critical early years, children develop crucial cognitive, social and emotional skills that form the foundation for future success. By providing access to safe and nurturing environments, affordable, highquality child care ensures that children receive the stimulation, care and support necessary for their optimal growth and development.
Accessible and affordable, highquality child care helps parents participate in the workforce without compromising their children's well-being. When parents have reliable and affordable, high-quality child care options, they can pursue employment, education or training opportunities with greater peace of mind. This, in turn, leads to increased economic stability for families, reducing financial stressors and empowering parents to provide for their children's essential needs.
Affordable, high-quality child care can mitigate health disparities that disproportionately affect low-income families and marginalized communities. Skilled child care providers can help identify and address health issues at an early stage, including developmental delays, mental health concerns, and nutrition-related problems. By intervening early, we can reduce the long-term impact of these health disparities, fostering more equitable opportunities for all children.
Raising a child is an immensely fulfilling experience, but it also comes with challenges that can impact parental mental and physical health. Affordable, high-quality child care provides parents with essential respite and support, allowing them to maintain social connections and effectively address personal and family needs. By investing in affordable, high-quality child care, we invest in the overall health and happiness of parents, creating healthier family dynamics and stronger communities.
Accessible, affordable and highquality child care are vital community resources that foster social cohesion and community building. By bringing families together, child care providers create spaces for parents to connect, exchange experiences and form support networks. These social connections are invaluable, especially for new parents, immigrants and others who feel isolated or lack access to extended family support. By nurturing community ties, such care contributes to public health by reducing social isolation and promoting collective well-being.
Ultimately, affordable, high quality child care is not merely an issue of convenience or personal choice — it is a cornerstone of public health and societal well-being.
Child care promotes employment, reduces health disparities, enhances parental well-being and fosters social cohesion — all significant contributions to a healthier and more prosperous society.
If we are to build resilient communities for all residents, affordable, highquality child care must be recognized as a key public health imperative.
Tempe Staples is community health improvement plan coordinator for the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester. Casey Burns is the coalition's director.