2-year-old Aubree identifies colors among shapes while playing with 'The Toy of the Day,' - the Shape Sorter on March 11, 2022 at her community resource center in South Carolina.
Addressing the Child Care Crisis: Save the Children’s Role and Insights from the Texas Tribune Festival Panel
Written by Meredith Reid, Senior Director Strategic Foundation Partnerships
The child care crisis in America is a pressing issue affecting millions of families, particularly those in rural and underserved areas. Several sessions at the Texas Tribune Festival this year underscored the importance of building a strong early childhood system in my home state and offered opportunities for reflection on where we are now – and how to make things better. Save the Children has been at the forefront of tackling this crisis, advocating for policy change and providing direct support to families and child care providers nationwide. Our efforts are critical in bridging gaps in access, quality and affordability of early childhood education, especially in communities that are often overlooked.
Our Work in Addressing the Child Care Crisis
Save the Children is deeply involved in supporting child care providers and families, particularly in rural areas where the challenges are most acute. With resources like the Rural Child Care Policy Framework and the Rural Child Well-Being Dashboards, Save the Children is highlighting the unique needs of rural communities and advocating for evidence-based solutions. We help inform policymakers through our political advocacy arm – Save the Children Advocacy Network – and drive strategic actions to expand access to quality early childhood education.
One of our flagship initiatives is the Career and Education Workforce Development program, which was launched in 2020 with support from the Department of Labor. This program focuses on building the early education workforce in rural areas by offering training, credentialing, degree opportunities and other resources to educators. The impact has been significant: over 500 individuals have participated, and 145 have completed their credentials or degrees. By equipping local residents with the skills needed to join the child care workforce, Save the Children is addressing provider shortages and creating sustainable, long-term solutions for communities. We were thrilled to receive additional funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission to expand our work in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Beyond direct service, our advocacy work through our political advocacy arm extends to partnering with other nonprofits, businesses and government entities to push for systemic changes in early childhood policy. Our efforts aim to ensure that all children, regardless of location, have access to the quality care they need to thrive.
Insights from the Texas Tribune Festival: The Urgency of the Child Care Crisis
One of the most memorable events I attended at the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival was the “Child Care Crisis” panel, which shed light on the profound challenges facing families and businesses in Texas and beyond. The discussion brought together experts from early childhood education, business and state legislation, offering a comprehensive view of the problem and potential pathways forward.
The Urgency of the Child Care Crisis
With over 68,000 families currently on a waitlist for child care subsidies, Texas is a stark example of the nationwide child care crisis. This shortage impacts not just families but also the broader economy. Emily Williams Knight, President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association, noted that Texas loses $11 billion annually in productivity and revenue losses as employees struggle to find reliable care. The panel underscored that the crisis is a vicious cycle: low wages in the child care industry make it difficult to recruit and retain qualified staff, and without adequate care, parents can’t fully participate in the workforce. As one panelist put it, having enough child care seats without qualified providers is as ineffective as having a hospital with beds but no nurses.
Potential Solutions and Innovative Approaches
The panel proposed several innovative solutions to address the crisis:
1. Creating Cross-Sector Task Forces: Business groups like the Texas Restaurant Association are working across industries and forming task forces to highlight the economic impact of the child care shortage and advocate for policy change. The Employers for Childcare Task Force brings powerful, non-partisan voices to legislative discussions, aligning to push for policies that support working families.
2. Advocating for Financial Support: Tamitha Blackmon, founder of Nehemiah Christian School, emphasized the need for more funding for families and providers. Blackmon’s center operates 24/7, offering income-based payment options, and she stressed that providers need diverse income streams to remain sustainable.
3. Streamlining Regulations and Offering Tax Credits: Simplifying local regulations for child care providers could help alleviate operational burdens and improve business viability. Proposition 2 was a step in the right direction by offering providers property tax relief.
4. Championing Legislative Action: State Representative Armando Walle discussed his legislative efforts, including a $2 billion budget request for child care funding. Although the request didn’t pass, it raised awareness among lawmakers about the critical need for child care reform and set the stage for the upcoming legislative session.
5. Exploring Alternative Funding Sources: Panelists noted that Texas’s budget surplus could be used to reduce the child care subsidy waitlist and support workforce development. Proposals included prioritizing teachers on the subsidy list and investing in educational pathways for the early childhood workforce.
A Call to Action
The insights from the Texas Tribune Festival panel, coupled with Save the Children’s work, make it clear that the child care crisis requires urgent and coordinated action from all stakeholders. SCAN, our political advocacy arm, knows that voters are ready for a solution, too. By investing in early childhood education, supporting workforce development, and advocating for systemic change, we can create a more equitable and sustainable child care system that benefits families, businesses and communities alike.
I’m a native Texan, and as I support loved ones and neighbors navigating the system, this issue hits close to home. Through my years as a pre-K teacher, I saw firsthand how the lack of affordable, quality child care can strain families and limit opportunities – impacting their readiness for kindergarten and beyond. The economic and social well-being of our communities depends on addressing these challenges. Save the Children’s initiatives are a powerful reminder that with the right support, every child can thrive, and every parent can contribute fully to our economy. We owe it to the next generation of Texans to ensure they have the foundation they need to succeed.
