Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
SALT LAKE CITY — Caressa King's 6-year-old twins played on the Utah Capitol steps behind her when she tearfully asked for help.
"As a member of our community, as a mom, as someone who has been a licensed child care director in our state, we need help and I need help," King said.
Her plea for help was among many across the state and the nation. The crowd of attendees at the state Capitol on Monday joined thousands of parents and child care providers across the United States rallying for affordable child care and better pay for early childhood educators. Three rallies were held in Utah joining the other 26 states that participated in the national Day Without Child Care, with some parents and child care providers calling out of work or closing their doors to emphasize the need.
"I can't do this by myself. It really does take a village, and right now I want to know — where is my village?" King asked. "It takes a village to grow creators, astronauts, those that work in the tech industry. It takes child care providers to help grow these professions, all of the professions in Utah and around our country."
King's question prompted a response from the crowd, with a woman responding, "We're right here."
The small crowd gathered only represented a fraction of the need, with many providers and the parents who rely on them unable to call out of work or close their doors, organizers said.
No Utah county has adequate numbers of licensed child care providers, and only 36% of child care needs are met in the state overall, according to Voices for Utah Children's report "Mapping Care for Kids." The report also revealed that in Utah, two of three families need both parents in the workforce to provide basic needs such as housing, food and clothing.
"If we don't have access to high quality, affordable child care, our economy will collapse. Because there's no way parents are gonna just drop their babies in the middle of nowhere, or leave them at home by themselves. Incredible sacrifices are happening right now in our families in 2024. In the richest country in the world and the most powerful country in the world, our families are making the most difficult decisions," said Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City.
Rising child care costs have begun to rival college tuition, pricing some families out of quality child care or forcing one parent out of the workforce. The lack of child care prompted $1.36 billion in lost economic development in Utah, according to a 2022 U.S. Chamber of Commerce report. Along with issues of affordability are issues of access and sustainability.
"When parents have to plan to drive more than 25 minutes to 45 minutes just to get access to child care— we're No. 5 in the nation when it comes to child care deserts — that's unacceptable. We need we have an issue of access, an issue of affordability ... also those individuals who are working in child care, it's not sustainable for the child care workers," added Escamilla.
The stagnant wages and lack of benefits are a concern for child care providers who are forced with the choice to raise tuition to keep up with inflating costs while also try to maintain a consistent staff of early childhood educators.
"These dedicated individuals play a pivotal role in shaping the minds and hearts of our youngest citizens, yet many struggle to make ends meet due to their low wages and lack of benefits," said Ali Dedman, director of Buttons 'n Bows Preschool and Childcare. "We are confronted with the harsh reality that we must raise tuition rates to a point that many families simply cannot afford. It creates a painful dilemma as we strive to support our educators while also ensuring accessibility to all families."
Some lawmakers already have plans to address the crisis, including Escamilla, who plans to introduce a bill that would create a private-public partnership between the state and private sector to convert unused state facilities into high-quality child care centers, with a percentage of spaces for private businesses and 40% to be used by the community, state employees and military personnel.
"We're going to need hundreds of solutions, tools in the toolbox," said Escamilla. "One more reminder, this is an election year, everyone. This is a time to be talking to the candidates and our current elected officials about their commitment to child care."
