South Carolina
Working families in South Carolina need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in South Carolina. But too many working families in South Carolina are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the South Carolina economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 340K children ages 5 and under in South Carolina – 64% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in South Carolina is around $9,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 10% of eligible families in South Carolina. (This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.)
On average, child care providers in South Carolina earn just $27,600 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
South Carolina’s economy loses $1.4B annually due to child care challenges.
South Carolina: In The Headlines
Child care concerns in South Carolina
WYFF | March 18, 2024
Greenville First Steps is hoping churches can convert Sunday school space into child care space.
Child care professionals in South Carolina will receive federally-funded bonuses
WCIV | February 12, 2024
The South Carolina Department of Social Services announced on Monday the launch of SC BOO$T, a pilot program that provides bonus to childcare professionals.
US voters seek help with crushing child care costs
Index-Journal | oCTOBER 2, 2024
According to a recent Chamber of Commerce report, “the child care barrier” in the country has resulted in six million unemployed workers, and 1.6 million more who want jobs but have largely given up looking.
South Carolina Resources & News
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