Access to Child Care in Los Angeles County: Recent Trends and COVID-19 Implications
Affordable and accessible child care is essential infrastructure. Without reliable, accessible, and affordable child care, working outside of the home is challenging or even impossible, particularly for mothers who continue to have disproportionate responsibility for the care of children. Quality child care keeps children safe and healthy, and plays a key role in children’s brain development. Conversely, the lack of affordable child care can keep women out of the labor force with negative consequences for parents, children, and the economy, overall.
Many parents have difficulty finding child care they can afford. Child care is unaffordable for middle- and low-income families. At the same time, many child care providers struggle to keep their doors open, particularly in low-income neighborhoods where residents are most in need of affordable care. While parents pay a lot for child care, wages among workers in the child care sector are low.
Given persistent challenges in the child care industry, this report provides an overview of the current landscape of the child care sector in Los Angeles County and the impacts of COVID-19 on the sector. This report builds on the 2017 assessment of child care and development needs conducted by the Los Angeles County Child Care Planning Committee, L.A. County Office for the Advancement of Early Care and Education, and First 5 LA.
