Virginia
Working families in Virginia 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 Virginia. But too many working families in Virginia are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Virginia economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 593K children ages 5 and under in Virginia – 66% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in Virginia is more than $16,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 7% of eligible families in Virginia. (This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.)
On average, child care providers in Virginia earn just $29,490 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
Virginia’s economy loses $3.1B annually due to child care challenges.
Virginia: In The Headlines
What parts of Virginia are most in favor of increasing access to child care? Rural areas.
Cardinal News | March 28, 2025
A new poll finds rare agreement, and perhaps unusual support, in conservative areas for something that might require more government spending.
Sen. Tim Kaine part of effort to get Congress to address child care needs
WHSV | March 6, 2025
Sen. Tim Kaine has introduced the “Child Care Availability and Affordability Act” and the “Child Care Workforce Act,” legislation with the goal to help working families in America access affordable child care near them.
How parents are navigating the ‘national crisis’ of child care
WTkR | jANUARY 21, 2025
WTKR anchor talks with a child care center in Virginia Beach about the changes they have seen and how parents can plan ahead
Virginia Resources & News
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