Impacts of Affordable Childcare on Families

Child care affordability has been an issue within the United States for many years. The rising cost of child care has impacted families and the decisions made within their families. The cost of care has risen past an affordable percentage of take-home income in every state and the nation’s capital. Using literature from Marshall (2004;2021), Malik (2019:2021), and Blau (2003;2007), as well as from nonprofit organizations such as Child Care Aware, Children at Risk, and Children’s Defense Fund, this research builds upon their findings. This study examines how affordability affects families with decisions regarding child care for their children. In addition, those impacted by the rising costs address their opinions on what can and should be done by the government to address these issues of child care affordability. The findings of this research show that child care affordability affects families and that these families want more government involvement in child care funding.