Investing in Child Care is Investing in our Future
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Dear Editor,
Early childhood care and education are public goods and the foundations of our entire economy. As someone who has owned and operated my own family child care business since 2007, I understand how important quality child care is for our community.
Early care and education allow parents to work, businesses to operate and entrepreneurs to start businesses - while young children are cared for and educated. Further, they build the foundation for all future learning, employment and innovation.
As a child care provider, I also understand how the lack of affordable, accessible and flexible child care has negatively impacted our community. It is hard for parents to find care that works for them, and, on average, I have to turn one family away each week due to lack of space.
The lack of support in our child care system does not just fall on parents. In order for parents to be able to afford this essential care, I have to charge less than what I deserve to earn.
Fortunately, President Biden’s Build Back Better Act includes a historic investment in child care. Child care providers will be paid a living wage, meaning I will be able to earn what I deserve for the important, time consuming, mentally and physically draining job I do. Additionally, I will have less stress about my personal finances and I may even be able to save for retirement.
The Build Back Better Act will also ensure a majority of working families pay no more than seven percent of their income for child care, allowing parents to better plan their family around their preferences instead of finances, and be more engaged parents.
Families and caregivers in Wisconsin desperately need and deserve the policies in the Build Back Better Act.
Corrine Hendrickson,
New Glarus
