Why I wrote this story: Childcare solutions are expensive. Who will pay?
As a woman in her 30s, the cost of childcare is one of the biggest stressors for my friends and peers.
Paying for childcare is comparable to paying for college tuition for many families. And yet, childcare providers earn very little for their important work.
I spoke with parents who want the best for their children, yet struggle to find an affordable childcare option. That search is even harder for parents of children with disabilities, families who live in Appalachia or rural Ohio or guardians who work second or third shift.
I talked with childcare providers and managers who love their jobs but could earn more money at a local restaurant or big box store. One woman felt she couldn’t afford to have children while working in the childcare profession.
What’s clear is that childcare in Ohio isn’t a sustainable business model. Something’s gotta give.
On the bright side, an increasing number of people in positions of power understand the problem. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce has thrown its weight behind finding solutions for affordable, accessible childcare. Gov. Mike DeWine prioritized it in his final budget and most recent State of the State speech. At the local level, communities are banding together to build childcare centers or invest in training programs.
But nearly all of the statewide solutions are expensive, and no one wants to pay.
It’s expensive to make it easier for low-income families to access free or reduced-cost childcare. It’s costly to offer families a tax credit for their children’s expenses. It’s not cheap to provide free childcare for childcare workers or offer businesses money to offset their workers’ childcare bills.
But there’s a cost of doing nothing as well. And it’s paid by Ohio’s families and children.
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why I wrote this story: Childcare solutions are expensive. Who will pay?
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