The Struggle to Find Quality Child Care

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The Struggle to Find Quality Child Care

for Montana’s Families

WRITTEN BY SARA SILVA

Whether you call it a Zoom Boom or Land Grab, Montana’s population is quickly rising. As more people flock to the Treasure State, families across Montana face increasing expenses. Pre-pandemic Montana was already struggling with an unsustainable child care system that saw families paying an average of $8,400 to $9,500 in child care costs per child each year, which is double the in-state tuition at public four-year universities of $3,386 per year (Montana Budget and Policy Center). Considering that affordable child care is less than 10% of a family’s income, this is a major expense for most families. The rapid population growth throughout the state has created new barriers to accessing and affording child care. Higher housing costs, for example, have increased the financial burden on families and pushed many into more rural areas (23% of Montana’s families face a high housing cost burden according to Montana KIDS COUNT). These rural areas are even less equipped to meet Montana’s burgeoning child care needs with six counties having no licensed child care options at all (Carter, Fallon, Golden Valley, Petroleum, Treasure and Wilbaux).

Available Child Care The numbers can be daunting for families trying to find care for their children. Montana’s child care system currently has the capacity for only 48% of kids with working parents. This equals one licensed child care slot for every three children from birth to 6-years-old. When we break this figure down further among communities, we see even more clearly the challenges faced by families.

According to Montana KIDS COUNT: » Child cares in rural counties have slots for

23% of children

» Child cares in moderately rural counties

have slots for 38% of children

» Child cares in the least rural counties

have slots for 43% of children

Families who are looking for infant and toddler care not only face the highest expenses but also the least availability of openings.

Child Care Workforce Looking at the other side of this equation, child care workers are paid an average of just $10.99 per hour (Montana Budget and Policy Center) – less than the starting wage at many chain retailers or restaurants. With housing costs jumping $195,000 and rents increasing by 58% in the past year in Gallatin County, many early childhood professionals are being forced to leave the area. Recently, Child Care Connections has received an increasing number of reports from child care programs struggling to find staff. Multiple programs are decreasing the number of child care spaces available due to the lack of staffing. In turn, this further exarcerbates the shortage of available child care. The increased dearth in care directly impacts workforce participation and child safety as parents are forced to choose between leaving their children in unsafe or illegal care or going to work.

A Better Tomorrow for Montana’s Children and Families Relief may be on the horizon as legislators tackle this issue. Temporary relief in child care costs has been offered to families by increasing the income limits for the Best Beginnings Scholarship; but more support is needed to increase the sustainability of Montana’s child care system. Lend your choice on behalf of children and families by contacting your legislator.

Written by Sara Silva, STARS Coach at Child Care Connections, where their work is all about quality child care. Visit online at cccmontana.org or call 406-587-7786 for information on services for families and child care providers.