A nationwide childcare shortage is driving women out of the workforce, pushing young families to relocate, and leaving employers short of workers, while many remaining childcare providers struggle with low pay and financial instability. These challenges are especially severe in rural communities, where sparse populations make it difficult for childcare centers to enroll enough children to remain viable and to recruit and retain qualified staff, according to a report commissioned by the nonpartisan think tank United WE. In the absence of new federal funding or broad reform, some states—particularly rural ones—are pursuing innovative solutions by strengthening the family childcare sector, which serves more than 6 million children under age 5 nationwide. Many of these efforts align with recommendations from home-based providers themselves, as outlined in a Home Grown report that highlights three promising strategies for addressing the shortage.

States Tackle the Childcare Shortage in Rural America with Tangible Results