Child Care Affordability Needs Lawmakers’ Attention

In Brief

Child care has been a consistent conversation among parents, social workers, child advocates, and the child care workforce because the costs of care are rising. Without affordable child care, some parents leave the workforce, and some spend more than 7% of their income on care, says an NASW blog post written by April Ferguson, LCSW-C, senior practice associate at NASW. Congress held multiple hearings this year in response to child care headlines related to potential fraud. Advocates are raising concerns about the focus of the conversation being directed to fraud and abuse allegations and not on the crisis of child care affordability and accessibility, Ferguson notes. Social workers can focus on child and family well-being and support clients with referrals and case management services if low-income families struggle to find child care. As lawmakers address this issue, constituents can contact their representatives and discuss the value of affordable child care access, she states.