The U.S. child care industry has faced major challenges in recent years, including high staff turnover and a shortage of providers — particularly affordable ones. These issues only intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought the growing child care crisis into focus. As $39 billion in child care assistance funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) began to phase out in September 2023, onlookers warned that up to 3 million children could experience disruptions in child care nationwide — a “child care cliff.” In this episode of Baker Briefing, fellows Joyce Beebe and Edward M. Emmett discuss the child care shortage in the U.S. and evaluate a variety of policy solutions.
This conversation was recorded on Jan. 31, 2024.
Joyce Beebe, Ph.D.
Fellow in Public Finance
Edward M. Emmett
Fellow in Energy and Transportation
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