Thompson Approach to Improving Access to Quality Child Care
Families across the nation are facing a crisis when it comes to child care. Our system is mostly broken and the challenges of accessing affordable, high-quality child care are particularly pronounced for poorer, disadvantaged communities.
At Thompson, we’re working hard to solve this problem for the children and families who are most held back by a lack of accessible child care – in the Carolinas, and beyond.
In this post, we’ll explore the key drivers behind the child care crisis and highlight what we’re doing to deliver early childhood education services to those in need at our Childhood Development Center.
The high cost of child care perpetuates the cycle of poverty
According to the Economic Policy Institute, the average annual cost of infant care in the United States can be prohibitively expensive for many families. In some regions, the expense can even surpass the cost of rent or mortgage payments.
In poorer communities, the situation is even more overwhelming, with families in the bottom 20% of the income distribution spending, on average, 35% of their income on child care – an unsustainable figure that forces parents to choose between child care and basic necessities.
A lack of quality child care options
Low-income families are even more burdened by a real shortage of quality child care options. Centers that do exist in “child care deserts” tend to be underfunded and understaffed, with high child-to-caregiver ratios.
For disadvantaged communities, this scarcity of acceptable early childhood education facilities can stunt cognitive and social development for children, leaving them woefully unprepared when entering kindergarten, perpetuating educational disparities.
While many families turn to informal child care arrangements, such as family members or neighbors, these solutions rarely provide the structured, developmental environment that professional child care services offer.
Unaffordable child care drives earnings down for women in poverty
Many women from low-income backgrounds leave the workforce or reduce their hours to look after children they cannot afford to send to a child care center. This loss of income immediately impacts financial stability, while trapping families in a cycle of poverty and limited economic mobility.
Racial disparities exacerbate the situation
Families of color tend to face higher economic hardship and limited access to affordable, quality child care. This inequality further complicates future prospects for education, employment, and health, perpetuating historic cycles of disadvantage.
Inadequate care impacts child development and future opportunities
Quality early childhood education is critical for developing cognitive, social, and emotional skills. Children who have access to high-quality child care are more likely to succeed academically and socially, reducing the likelihood of dropping out of school or engaging in delinquent behavior.
In disadvantaged communities, a lack of access to quality child care means children miss out on these crucial early learning experiences. At Thompson, we’re working to make sure this doesn’t happen.
Making an impact when it matters most
Thompson’s Child Development Center stands out for its holistic approach to early childhood education. Offering a nurturing environment with a focus on individualized learning, emotional support, and family involvement, the center integrates evidence-based practices and community resources to foster development and well-being.
- 5-star rating
- Creative, research-proven curriculum
- On-site therapeutic services
- Integrated family support
Support early childhood education and affordable child care
With your help, we can provide high-quality child care and early childhood education to more at-risk children and families. Thank you in advance for your continued support.