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We spend a considerable amount of time looking at Child Care Deserts, whether by county or by zip code. A child care desert is a geographic area where there is a lack of available child care options for families.
This can refer to a lack of child care centers or a lack of spaces in existing centers. Child care deserts often occur in areas where there is a low population density, making it difficult for child care providers to operate sustainably. These areas can also have high costs of living, which can make it difficult for families to afford child care even if it is available.
Although we currently see child care deserts using the population under age 5, it would be beneficial to also look at the number of children under age 6 with parents in the labor force (that is, either working or looking for work) as they are likely to be the children who will need child care options.
That being said, the map here shows variations in greenish color. The darker the green color, the more the number of children under the age of 6 with parents in the labor force. The lighter the color, the less the density of those under the age of 6 children.
We’ve also overlayed the counties on the map so you can see what counties those zip codes are in. One takeaway is that the darker green areas occur most often along the highways and in known urban areas.
Contact us for more information.
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Director, Data & Analysis 314-881-4657
Child Care Aware® of Missouri
michael@mochildcareaware.org
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