Ragan Report

Quality child care for working families, growing economy
 
     Most young children in Iowa grow up in homes with working parents. In fact, Iowa has the highest percentage of households with children under age 6 who have all available parents in the labor force –77 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
     With young kids in childcare an average of 36 hours per week, high-quality care is important to Iowans. The cost can seem insurmountable when almost 20 percent of Iowa children under age 5 live in poverty. According to a recent study by the Committee for Economic Development, the average cost of care for an infant can run as high as $9,185 per year in Iowa.
     That’s why the Legislature invests in childcare assistance to low-income families who are working or bettering their job prospects. In addition, changes to federal law are improving Iowa’s Child Care Assistance Program. For example, program eligibility requirements will no longer penalize families when they receive modest pay increases. 
     These changes will ensure that more families can get high-quality care for their children and focus on their jobs when they are at work, with the assurance that their children are in a safe, nurturing environment. The child care industry also makes a big contribution to the economy on its own. Iowa has 13,260 child care establishments that employ 22,716 workers, support about 5,100 jobs in other industries and contribute $730 million to the state’s economy.
     Ultimately, access to high-quality child care leads to a more skilled workforce, spurs economic growth and strengthens our middle class. Learn more about child care assistance available in Iowa at http://dhs.iowa.gov/child-care.
     Sen. Amanda Ragan (D-Mason City) serves Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties in Senate District 27. She can be reached at (641) 424-0874. Email her at amanda.ragan@legis.iowa.gov.