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What Happens if the Child Care System Goes Bust?
The COVID pandemic has uncovered the precarious situation of child care center businesses. Although child care is a major piece of national economic infrastructure, there is no regular federal support for it beyond block grants. During the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, over 60% of the centers closed. Those that did stay open cared for the children of essential workers. We do not know how many will be able to reopen and of course, that will look different because of health concerns. Child care centers function on shoestring budgets and only have 2 weeks of financial cushion on average. The additional costs of personal protective equipment (PPE) along with the major dip in enrollment may put about one-third of childcare centers out of business permanently while others sit on the precipice of financial disaster. As states have begun reopenings, only two-thirds of the centers have reopened, most at 30–40% capacity. Given that there is already a major shortage of child care in this country, we are facing the possible collapse of an industry that allows all other industries to thrive. It is time for action.
A Little History
The first government-sponsored child care was developed during WWII in response to the need for women to enter the workforce. The Lanham Act was passed and funded through 1946 when women were sent home from their jobs to…
