Analyzing Missouri's Progress in Tackling Child Care Deserts

Analyzing Missouri's Progress in Tackling Child Care Deserts

We dedicate a significant amount of effort to analyzing Child Care Deserts, whether on a county or zip code level. Child Care Deserts are geographical areas where there is a shortage of accessible child care options for families. This shortage can manifest as a lack of child care programs or insufficient available slots in existing programs. Child Care Deserts are often found in regions with low population density, posing challenges for child care providers to operate sustainably. Additionally, these areas may have high living costs, further compounding the difficulties for families in accessing affordable child care services.

In the state of Missouri, there has been a noticeable reduction in the number of Child Care Deserts in recent months. As of October 2023, Missouri has 70 counties designated as Child Care Deserts, which marks a decline from 77 counties in October 2022 and 74 counties in January 2023. This decline indicates an improvement in the accessibility of child care services across various parts of the state.

However, a reduction in the number of counties considered child care deserts does not necessarily mean that the existing deserts have improved in terms of the quality or accessibility of child care services. The decrease in the number of counties designated as child care deserts may be due to various factors, including changes in the population distribution, the opening of new child care facilities, or shifts in government policies.

It's important to assess not only the quantity but also the quality and accessibility of child care services within these areas. Even if a county is no longer classified as a child care desert, it does not guarantee that the child care options available meet the needs of families or provide high-quality care for children.

While this reduction in Child Care Deserts is a positive development for Missouri's families, there is still more work ahead. Parents require access to reliable child care to secure and maintain employment, while children need safe environments that foster their healthy growth and development while their parents are at work. The overall economic well-being of Missouri hinges on the availability of child care options that enable parents to participate in the workforce.

To make child care facilities viable and sustainable, both new and existing ones require active support. It is crucial that governmental, public, and private entities prioritize and collaborate on providing this assistance. By working together, we can ensure that every family in Missouri has access to affordable and high-quality child care services.

Child Care Aware® of Missouri – Data & Analysis Services

Director, Data & Analysis 314-881-4657
Child Care Aware® of Missouri
michael@mochildcareaware.org

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