$1B given in RI child care development

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — In effort to help lower the cost of child care for working families, U.S. Senator Jack Reed helped deliver a $1 billion increase to child care and learning programs.

On Thursday, Sen. Reed joined Rhode Island Kids Count, the Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association and the Beautiful Beginnings Child Care Center to discuss the importance of affordable, high-quality child care.

Following the latest appropriations law that President Biden signed last month, this level of federal funding will help ensure that more working parents can afford child care.

Reports from Care.com, which surveyed over 2,000 parents, revealed that 47% of parents spend up to $18,000 on child care expenses, which is an average of 24% of their household income. The survey also revealed that 35% of parents dip into their savings accounts to cover child care costs.

According to the 2023 Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook, the childcare system is “unworkable” for most families and a reported 10% of Rhode Islanders are able to afford child care.

Sen. Reed shared the following statement:

“Federal child care investment is vital to working families and critical to workforce development, job creation, and economic growth.  Access to high-quality, affordable, and reliable childcare is a significant factor in family well-being and parents’ ability to hold down a job, support their family, pursue their goals and thrive.  And high-quality child care programs staffed with skilled educators is a critical part of the state’s early learning system, helping children learn and develop skills necessary to succeed in school and life.”