One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Business owners, employees divided over how much of a struggle child care is, report finds
A survey by First 5 California finds nearly half of parents in California say it's difficult to afford childcare.
(
Brenda Cruz for LAist
)
Topline:
A new report by First 5 California finds that 48% of parents in California — mostly women — find it difficult or very difficult to find affordable childcare. Seventy-two percent of parents had to cobble together more than one source of childcare, like relying on grandparents or neighbors.
Why it matters: Last week, the U.S. Surgeon General issued a public health advisory on parental stress, citing childcare costs as one factor. “It definitely is an added stress to parents who are trying to make sure that their children are growing and thriving in the best environment possible while they are able to put food on the table, and make rents or their mortgage,” said Jackie Thu-Huong Wong, executive director of First 5 California.
Missed work: The First 5 California report found that 50% of parents said childcare issues negatively affected their job or career.
Business sense: Business owners who have kids put a much higher priority on childcare as an issue to address, versus business owners without kids (61% vs. 38%). One business owner (unidentified, except for being male) told surveyors: “We pay well enough that the people who work in the office who have children, they have no problems with getting childcare or taking care of it.”
What’s next: The report is part of First 5 California’s new campaign to raise awareness about the affordability issues of childcare and the impact on the state’s economy.
Related:
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
