Assess the Experiences of Working Families in Your Community
A primary step to addressing the needs of working families in your community is educating municipal leadership regarding the real life and community economic impact of inadequate early learning and care infrastructure. Municipal leaders must understand the struggles families face in accessing affordable, quality child care and how these challenges directly affect local workforce participation, productivity, and overall economic health. By leveraging case studies, community surveys, and partnerships with local organizations, municipalities can gain a comprehensive picture of the gaps in child care availability and affordability. This data-driven approach will help leaders make informed decisions about policies and investments that support working families, foster community well-being, and boost long-term economic growth.
Tools & Resources
Child Care Aware Child Care Data Center
Child Care Aware State by State Resource Map
Child Care Aware Landscape Analysis and Price of Care Information including state-by-state data
Economic Impact of America’s Child Care Gap Report from Bipartisan Policy Center
Child Care in 35 States: Quantifying the Supply, Needs and Gaps in Child Care from Bipartisan Policy Center
Untapped Potential Report: How Childcare Impacts Michiganʼs Workforce and Economy
Michigan Child Care Desert Map from MSU
Next Steps: What Municipal Leadership Can Do
Engage the Community Solicit feedback from local families, child care providers, and businesses to identify gaps in child care services. This can look like a fully community child care needs assessment, surveys, focus groups, or other facilitated engagement strategies. Use this input to guide decisions and prioritize development in underserved areas.
Analyze Workforce and Economic Data Collaborate with local economic development organizations and businesses to analyze data on workforce participation and absenteeism related to child care challenges. Understanding how child care gaps affect labor force availability, job retention, and productivity will help prioritize investments that benefit both families and the local economy.
Map Current Child Care Supply and Demand Create a geographic map of existing child care providers alongside data on where working families live and work. This mapping exercise will highlight areas with child care deserts, helping municipal leaders target investments in child care infrastructure where they are most needed.
Educate Local Leadership on Trends Host workshops or provide briefings for municipal decision-makers that highlight national and state-level trends in early childhood care, including policy changes, funding opportunities, and emerging best practices. This will equip leadership with a broader understanding of how child care impacts communities beyond the local level and allow them to align local strategies with larger policy initiatives.
Advocate with State and Local Government Advocate for increased state and local investment in early learning and care by sharing compelling stories, local data, and the real-life experiences of working families in their communities. Highlight the economic and social impact that child care infrastructure has on workforce development and overall community health. Use this local evidence to push for policy changes, funding opportunities, and legislative support.
