Childcare worker Debbie James-Dean sits with children at a Kids Are Us Learning Center in Washington, D.C., on March 24, 2017.
Congress Must Fund Childcare Initiatives Like the One That Helped Me Escape Poverty
Accessible childcare offers long-term benefits for children, families, and society, including improved educational outcomes, greater workforce participation, and reduced dependence on the social safety net.
On a good day in December 1983, I cooked Vienna sausages and grits on a borrowed kerosene heater that—in my poverty-stricken state—felt like another mouth to feed. Every day I had to buy fuel for it.
I’d vowed to lift myself and two boys out of destitution as soon as I could, either by getting a job or returning to school. But a severe lack of resources, primarily childcare for my toddler, made it nearly impossible to envision either.
Our financial situation was far from secure compared to what it had been the year before. My partner and I both worked, and we enjoyed a comfortable life in a lovely neighborhood. However, his struggles with PTSD from his time in Vietnam led to unpredictable violent outbursts, prompting me to flee with the children for our safety.
Knowing my two-year-old would be properly looked after enabled me to not only attend my classes, but focus on my studies with peace of mind.
With no concrete plan, we ended up briefly homeless, relying on a moving truck and strangers for shelter before ending up in a tiny, unequipped unit in a dilapidated cement tenement.
Sylvia, a friend at church, taught me about Pell Grants, Supplement Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and other tools to help me afford an education. Thanks to her, I decided to attend community college.
Sylvia also had the answer to my biggest looming concern—the availability of childcare for my toddler. She said the cost could be covered by a government-subsidized program. And she was right.
Without that support, I couldn’t have taken advantage of any of the other aid. Knowing my two-year-old would be properly looked after enabled me to not only attend my classes, but focus on my studies with peace of mind.
During my second year of college, I completed two unpaid internships: one in a television newsroom, and another at a city lifestyle magazine. That experience helped me get a piece published in a major newspaper, which led to opportunities with local publications. My income increased and stabilized when I became a newspaper staff writer.
Affordable childcare was the key. To this day, nearly 40 years later, I’m still grateful for having received that support and the opportunities for professional growth that came my way. Affordable childcare is bound to be the answer to others’ success, as well.
Accessible childcare offers long-term benefits for children, families, and society, including improved educational outcomes, greater workforce participation, and reduced dependence on the social safety net. But unfortunately, the cost of childcare has skyrocketed since I had young kids. Some families pay up to 30% of their income toward childcare, making it unaffordable almost everywhere in the United States.
I urge members of Congress to fund, support, and expand childcare initiatives. The pandemic-era stabilization funds that saved up to 10 million childcare slots ended last fall, threatening the childcare sector as well as the families, children, and businesses that depend on it. And we’re facing another cliff this fall.
This spring, Community Change Action organized the third Annual National Day Without Childcare, which gave a glimpse of what would happen if providers were all forced to close their doors for good. As a parent and grandparent, I stand in solidarity with them.
If we don’t make a change, all of us will pay the price.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
On a good day in December 1983, I cooked Vienna sausages and grits on a borrowed kerosene heater that—in my poverty-stricken state—felt like another mouth to feed. Every day I had to buy fuel for it.
I’d vowed to lift myself and two boys out of destitution as soon as I could, either by getting a job or returning to school. But a severe lack of resources, primarily childcare for my toddler, made it nearly impossible to envision either.
Our financial situation was far from secure compared to what it had been the year before. My partner and I both worked, and we enjoyed a comfortable life in a lovely neighborhood. However, his struggles with PTSD from his time in Vietnam led to unpredictable violent outbursts, prompting me to flee with the children for our safety.
Knowing my two-year-old would be properly looked after enabled me to not only attend my classes, but focus on my studies with peace of mind.
With no concrete plan, we ended up briefly homeless, relying on a moving truck and strangers for shelter before ending up in a tiny, unequipped unit in a dilapidated cement tenement.
Sylvia, a friend at church, taught me about Pell Grants, Supplement Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and other tools to help me afford an education. Thanks to her, I decided to attend community college.
Sylvia also had the answer to my biggest looming concern—the availability of childcare for my toddler. She said the cost could be covered by a government-subsidized program. And she was right.
Without that support, I couldn’t have taken advantage of any of the other aid. Knowing my two-year-old would be properly looked after enabled me to not only attend my classes, but focus on my studies with peace of mind.
During my second year of college, I completed two unpaid internships: one in a television newsroom, and another at a city lifestyle magazine. That experience helped me get a piece published in a major newspaper, which led to opportunities with local publications. My income increased and stabilized when I became a newspaper staff writer.
Affordable childcare was the key. To this day, nearly 40 years later, I’m still grateful for having received that support and the opportunities for professional growth that came my way. Affordable childcare is bound to be the answer to others’ success, as well.
Accessible childcare offers long-term benefits for children, families, and society, including improved educational outcomes, greater workforce participation, and reduced dependence on the social safety net. But unfortunately, the cost of childcare has skyrocketed since I had young kids. Some families pay up to 30% of their income toward childcare, making it unaffordable almost everywhere in the United States.
I urge members of Congress to fund, support, and expand childcare initiatives. The pandemic-era stabilization funds that saved up to 10 million childcare slots ended last fall, threatening the childcare sector as well as the families, children, and businesses that depend on it. And we’re facing another cliff this fall.
This spring, Community Change Action organized the third Annual National Day Without Childcare, which gave a glimpse of what would happen if providers were all forced to close their doors for good. As a parent and grandparent, I stand in solidarity with them.
If we don’t make a change, all of us will pay the price.
- 'Families' Needs Over Corporate Greed': US Childcare Providers, Parents Hold Day of Action ›
- Senate Report Warns Inaction Pushing US Childcare System to 'Brink of Collapse' ›
- To Avert Looming Childcare Disaster, Murray and Sanders Lead Emergency Funding Bill ›
- As GOP Threatens Shutdown, US Childcare Catastrophe Just Weeks Away ›
- 3.2 Million Kids Could Be Thrown Off 'Childcare Cliff' in September—Unless Congress Acts ›
- 'They Still Failed Millions of Children': Congress Averted a Shutdown, But Not a Childcare Cliff ›
On a good day in December 1983, I cooked Vienna sausages and grits on a borrowed kerosene heater that—in my poverty-stricken state—felt like another mouth to feed. Every day I had to buy fuel for it.
I’d vowed to lift myself and two boys out of destitution as soon as I could, either by getting a job or returning to school. But a severe lack of resources, primarily childcare for my toddler, made it nearly impossible to envision either.
Our financial situation was far from secure compared to what it had been the year before. My partner and I both worked, and we enjoyed a comfortable life in a lovely neighborhood. However, his struggles with PTSD from his time in Vietnam led to unpredictable violent outbursts, prompting me to flee with the children for our safety.
Knowing my two-year-old would be properly looked after enabled me to not only attend my classes, but focus on my studies with peace of mind.
With no concrete plan, we ended up briefly homeless, relying on a moving truck and strangers for shelter before ending up in a tiny, unequipped unit in a dilapidated cement tenement.
Sylvia, a friend at church, taught me about Pell Grants, Supplement Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and other tools to help me afford an education. Thanks to her, I decided to attend community college.
Sylvia also had the answer to my biggest looming concern—the availability of childcare for my toddler. She said the cost could be covered by a government-subsidized program. And she was right.
Without that support, I couldn’t have taken advantage of any of the other aid. Knowing my two-year-old would be properly looked after enabled me to not only attend my classes, but focus on my studies with peace of mind.
During my second year of college, I completed two unpaid internships: one in a television newsroom, and another at a city lifestyle magazine. That experience helped me get a piece published in a major newspaper, which led to opportunities with local publications. My income increased and stabilized when I became a newspaper staff writer.
Affordable childcare was the key. To this day, nearly 40 years later, I’m still grateful for having received that support and the opportunities for professional growth that came my way. Affordable childcare is bound to be the answer to others’ success, as well.
Accessible childcare offers long-term benefits for children, families, and society, including improved educational outcomes, greater workforce participation, and reduced dependence on the social safety net. But unfortunately, the cost of childcare has skyrocketed since I had young kids. Some families pay up to 30% of their income toward childcare, making it unaffordable almost everywhere in the United States.
I urge members of Congress to fund, support, and expand childcare initiatives. The pandemic-era stabilization funds that saved up to 10 million childcare slots ended last fall, threatening the childcare sector as well as the families, children, and businesses that depend on it. And we’re facing another cliff this fall.
This spring, Community Change Action organized the third Annual National Day Without Childcare, which gave a glimpse of what would happen if providers were all forced to close their doors for good. As a parent and grandparent, I stand in solidarity with them.
If we don’t make a change, all of us will pay the price.
- 'Families' Needs Over Corporate Greed': US Childcare Providers, Parents Hold Day of Action ›
- Senate Report Warns Inaction Pushing US Childcare System to 'Brink of Collapse' ›
- To Avert Looming Childcare Disaster, Murray and Sanders Lead Emergency Funding Bill ›
- As GOP Threatens Shutdown, US Childcare Catastrophe Just Weeks Away ›
- 3.2 Million Kids Could Be Thrown Off 'Childcare Cliff' in September—Unless Congress Acts ›
- 'They Still Failed Millions of Children': Congress Averted a Shutdown, But Not a Childcare Cliff ›