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Senator Ragan: Iowa facing child care crisis

Amanda Ragan
The following is a legislative update from State Senator Amanda Ragan, representing Franklin, Butler and Cerro Gordo counties:

Iowa is in the middle of a child care crisis. It’s tough on families, businesses and communities.
Members of the Iowa Women’s Foundation recently visited the State Capitol to share with legislators their ideas for expanding access to child care.

Iowa’s child care challenges include:

· Making care accessible to ALL Iowans, including those in rural areas.
· Finding nontraditional options for parents who work outside of the 9-to-5 schedule or attend school.
· Keeping child care affordable, while ensuring that providers earn a fair and livable wage.

Women’s Foundation members have been touring Iowa communities, talking to child care providers, nonprofits, business leaders and working parents about solutions to help Iowa families prosper.

The Foundation recommends the Legislature increase support for early childhood initiatives and expand eligibility for child care tax credits. I am sponsoring a bill this session (SF 2110) to increase income eligibility for child care assistance over the next five years.

Other potential solutions include:

· Building and expanding child care centers.
· Supporting child care entrepreneurs.
· Encouraging businesses to add child care benefits.
· Working with community colleges to prepare the next generation of child care providers.
· Enhancing before-and after-school programs.
· Creating viable child care options for second- and third-shift workers.

As a grantmaking organization, the Iowa Women’s Foundation established a Child Care Solutions Fund to invest in initiatives that increase women’s economic security—and provide the workers that local employers need—through access to quality, affordable child care.

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