Wisconsin’s rural families burdened by childcare deserts

Judith Ruiz-Branch, Public News Service

Almost half of young children in the U-S live in childcare deserts, according to a new report. In Wisconsin, fifty-four percent of residents don’t have access to adequate childcare, with higher numbers for
rural areas. The Center for American Progress says the gap percentage rises to 70 percent in Wisconsin’s smaller communities. The Center’s Casey Peeks says this creates a stark urban-rural divide. She notes policymakers are rightfully focused on affordability issues given childcare costs are out of reach for most American families, but adds that’s only part of the problem.

Peeks says the data underscores the need for comprehensive solutions that address both cost and availability simultaneously, which starts with addressing the workforce. She says inadequate staffing leads to program closures and causes less options and higher costs for families.

The average cost of childcare in Wisconsin for an infant is more than 12-thousand dollars a year. For a toddler, the price increases to nearly 15-thousand. The average childcare worker gets paid about $13.50 an hour. Hailey Gibbs, also with the Center for American Progress, argues the system doesn’t sufficiently prioritize children’s needs. While it’s often said childcare helps working parents, she describes the sector as a “pay-to-play” system that undervalues caregivers and early educators.

Gibbs echoes calls for making childcare professionals feel appreciated, stressing that meaningful efforts must start with better wages. She adds both state and federal lawmakers also need to address the lack of public investment that creates a chasm between what families can afford and what providers need to sustain and grow programs.