Tennessee
Working families in Tennessee 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 Tennessee. But too many working families in Tennessee are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Tennessee economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 483K children ages 5 and under in Tennessee – 61% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in Tennessee is around $12,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 35% of eligible families in Tennessee. (This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.)
On average, child care providers in Tennessee earn just $27,470 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
Tennessee’s economy loses $2.3B annually due to child care challenges.
Tennessee: In The Headlines
Report highlights barriers child care industry faces in Tennessee
WSMV | dECEMBER 18, 2024
The report aims to “improve policies and address regulatory barriers to grow and support Tennessee’s Child Care Industry.”
High child care costs in US weigh on women’s employment
Citizen Tribune | oCTOBER 2, 2024
Rising child care costs in the United States are forcing many parents, often mothers, to work fewer hours or none at all — fueling concern among voters who feel the pinch in today’s economy.
Study reveals Tennessee child care workers face poverty wages
Public News Service | November 7, 2024
Child care workers across the nation, including in Tennessee, are struggling with poverty-level wages according to a new report.
Tennessee Resources & News
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