Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina, along with nine other governors, has written a letter to Congress calling for enhanced federal funding for the child care crisis as pandemic relief funds diminish.
CHILD CARE CRISIS REPORT EXPOSES WORK DISRUPTIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA, VERMONT, AND ARIZONA
READ ALSO:Sales Tax In Texas Surge To $3.92 Billion In June, Demonstrating Strong Economic Growth
A recent report on the child care crisis reveals that North Carolina, along with Vermont and Arizona, had the highest percentage of families experiencing work disruptions due to inadequate child care during the 2020-2021 period. The letter emphasizes the need to maintain current relief funding levels and allocate additional recurring funding in the 2024 federal budget to ensure accessible child care crisis options for working families. Quality child care is crucial to prevent child care crisis, and for parents to remain in the workforce, facilitate employers’ hiring, and support children’s learning and development.
REPORT ON CHILD CARE CRISIS REVEALS WORK DISRUPTIONS FOR 16% OF NORTH CAROLINA’S CHILDREN UNDER SIX
According to the 2023 Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 16% of children under six in North Carolina lived in families where someone had to quit, change, or decline a job due to the child care crisis—higher than the national average of 13%. The governors’ letter underscores the economic impact of the child care crisis, as businesses and employers nationwide express concerns about its adverse effects on the economy. North Carolina’s rankings in economic well-being, education, health, and family and community domains, as evaluated by the Data Book, highlight areas for improvement. In response, advocates, educators, business leaders, and policymakers in North Carolina are actively collaborating to address the child care crisis and enhance outcomes for children and families statewide.
READ ALSO:Texas Man Charged With Sexual Abuse Is Arrested After Escaping For Nearly 20 Years
