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We spend a considerable amount of time looking at Child Care Deserts, whether by county or by zip code. Child Care Deserts are geographic areas where there is a lack of available child care options for families, whether it be the number of child care programs or available slots in existing programs. Child Care Deserts often occur in areas with 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.
In Missouri, the number of Child Care Deserts has shown a notable decline in recent months. As of September 2023, there are now 72 counties in the state designated as Child Care Deserts, a drop from 78 counties in September 2022 and 74 counties in January 2023. This decrease reflects improved accessibility to child care in more areas of the state.
The decrease in Child Care Deserts is good news for families in Missouri, but there is still more work to be done. Parents continue to need child care in order to obtain and retain jobs, and children need a safe place to stay that promotes their healthy development while their parents are working. Missouri's economy will struggle without child care options to allow parents to work.
New and existing child care facilities need active assistance to become viable and sustainable. This assistance should be a priority of governmental, public, and private entities. By working together, we can ensure that all families in Missouri have access to affordable, quality child care.
Child Care Aware® of Missouri – Data & Analysis Services
Our comprehensive data analytic services include child care, demographic, economic, and social data to help your business grow. We offer customized data reports, analysis, and geographic mapping to interpret and visualize data. Contact us today.
Director, Data & Analysis 314-881-4657
Child Care Aware® of Missouri
michael@mochildcareaware.org
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