A children’s advocacy group says child care providers are finding it more difficult to remain in business. Mattilyn Batson, the public policy and research director for the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, says they’re being stretched thin financially.
“Rising costs, low wages, high staff turnover and other ongoing financial strains continue to be a real challenge when they’re looking at the longevity of how they’re going be able to support families in their community,” Batson said.
Batson says nearly every expense involved in running a child care center has gone up in recent years.
“These are increases to food costs, cleaning costs, insurance. Providers are even talking about how they’re having to try to increase wages to keep the staff that they have, that they don’t leave to go to other sectors,” Batson said.
Batson says the simplest solution is for child care providers is to raise tuition. However, that’s a lot easier said than done.
“The idea of raising tuition is just not something that is doable for many providers, because then they know they would be kicking out families who are already having a difficult time affording child care,” Batson explained.
Batson says there are programs aimed at helping both child care providers and families afford childcare, but those programs are underfunded, which only adds to the problem.
