Child care providers in Minnesota and Illinois have been changing far more than diapers over the past five years.
They've also been forming diverse coalitions to make their services more affordable to lower-income clients, many of whom have been getting squeezed by state budget cutbacks. They have had many successes, such as free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds and raising the income levels for subsidies.
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Berggren's article points out another category of businesses affected by the nation's economic crisis. She presents compelling examples of the impact of the problem on care providers, and the implications for low-income parents, and those who lose their jobs. I would like to see some indication--perhaps in a future article--of the impact on the children who need care.
Those of us who have no children, or whose children are grown, or who have no problem providing quality day care for our own children may think that this story is unimportant, or irrelevant to our lives. But the way children are cared for affects us all. We provide 12 years of free public education because we believe in the economic and social value of having an educated public. Day care must become an equal priority--affordable, high-quality, with skilled care providers who are ... More »
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