Idaho
Working families in Idaho 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 Idaho. But too many working families in Idaho are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Idaho economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 137K children ages 5 and under in Idaho – 57% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in Idaho is around $10,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 15% of eligible families in Idaho. (This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.)
On average, child care providers in Idaho earn just $28,510 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
Idaho’s economy loses $525M annually due to child care challenges
Idaho: In The Headlines
Boise childcare crisis: “We’re at a breaking point”
Idaho News dECember 11, 2024
The crisis, and its solution, reaches far beyond family life and childcare workers, into the rest of the workforce and the economy because a parent with dependable childcare takes fewer days off and focuses more when working.
North Idaho child care options not growing for local families
KTVB | November 14, 2024
According to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, more than 160 child care facilities that were part of the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) closed between 2019 and 2023.
Opinion: Child care is one solution for Idaho’s health care workforce shortages
Idaho Capital Sun | December 2, 2024
It’s going to take leaders in child care, education, housing, health care and government coming together to tackle the shortcomings in our system.
Idaho Resources & News
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