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About this paper symposium
| Panel information |
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| Panel 21. Social Policy |
| Paper #1 | |
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| Access to Child Care in Virginia: The Importance of Accounting for Affordability, Openings, and Quality | |
| Author information | Role |
| Deiby Mayaris Cubides Mateus, Ph.D., University of Virginia, United States | Presenting author |
| Isabelle Fares, University of Virginia, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Kate Miller-Bains, University of Virginia, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Daphna Bassok, University of Virginia, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Abstract | |
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In the United States, child care supply does not meet family demand (Banghart et al., 2021) and many parents struggle to find the care they need to work, go to school, and support their families. However, data limitations restrict our understanding of child care access. Typically, researchers approximate access by comparing the number of slots at licensed child care providers in a given geographic area to the number of children in those same areas. These measures are crude and fail to accurately capture all families’ needs (Banghart & Bedrick, 2020). While a provider may exist in a community, it will not be accessible to a family if it is too costly, or if it is affordable but totally full. Also, if families look for reasonably high-quality care, their provider options will be more limited. To date, however, no large-scale examinations of child care access have accounted for providers’ affordability, availability, or quality. Researchers acknowledge existing estimates overstate families’ access but know little about the magnitude of this overstatement. This paper addresses the limitations of previous access studies by comparing a typical approach to access measurement to novel ones that account for affordability, openings, and quality within a large population of low-income households. We combined unique statewide datasets including administrative data about (1) all of Virginia’s registered child care providers and (2) all children 0-5 living in households that participated in the state’s Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP) in August 2023 (N = 21,988 children in 17,733 households). We calculated the driving time between the addresses of CCSP households and all registered center- and home-based providers licensed to serve children 0-5 as of September 1, 2023 (N = 5,052 providers). Then, we incorporated data on providers' subsidy acceptance (as a proxy for affordability), availability of openings, and CLASS scores collected from subsidized providers in fall 2023 via Virginia’s LinkB5 data system (N = 2,116 providers). These data allow us to address the following research questions: • How do traditional measures of child care access compare to measures that account for affordability, availability, and quality? • To what extent does access to affordable, available, and reasonably high-quality care differ by children’s age (i.e. infants, toddlers, preschoolers)? We find children in our sample were within a 10-minute drive of 92 registered providers on average. When limiting to only those that accept subsidy, the number of providers was reduced to 52 and then 31 when including only subsidized providers with openings in the child’s age group. Our presentation will include additional estimates on differences in availability by children’s age and mid-range classroom quality (i.e., CLASS scores below and above three). Our findings suggest measures that do not consider what is affordable, available, or high-quality to families are likely to substantially overestimate access. This paper contributes to the literature seeking to measure young children’s true access to child care and informs policy aimed at increasing child care access, particularly for children from lower-income families. |
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| Paper #2 | |
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| Estimating Subsidized Child Care Eligibility, Demand, and Utilization in Massachusetts | |
| Author information | Role |
| Yoonsook Ha, Ph.D., Boston University, United States | Presenting author |
| Juliann Nicholson, Boston University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Keyi Liu, Boston University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Pia Caronongan, Boston University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Briana Le, Boston University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Andrew Bacher-Hicks, Boston University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Paripoorna Baxi, Boston University, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Abstract | |
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Background: Access to affordable child care is a critical issue for many families. Child care subsidies funded by the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) are essential for providing access to child care for low-income children, those who are homeless, children with special needs, or children involved with child protective services (CPS). Research highlights the developmentally protective and compensatory role of child care for vulnerable children, but subsidy uptake among eligible families remains low. Although existing studies offer some insights into the subsidized child care landscape, significant gaps persist in understanding disparities between eligibility, demand, and utilization. Additionally, regional variations and discrepancies based on demographic and economic factors, which may contribute to unequal access, are understudied. This study addresses these gaps by examining patterns of subsidized child care eligibility, demand, and utilization in Massachusetts, focusing on regional variations and exploring factors that contribute to disparities. Methods: The study utilizes 2017-2021 data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and two 2019 Massachusetts administrative datasets: one with address information for families on the child care subsidy waitlist and another for families using subsidies. We generate three types of census-tract level estimates: 1) “estimated eligibility,” defined as children potentially eligible for subsidies based on ACS data on income, work status, and the presence of a child under age 6, 2) “realized demand,” based on the number of children on the 2019 child care subsidy waitlist, and 3) “subsidy utilization,” defined as the number of children who utilized subsidies in 2019. We apply GIS mapping techniques to visually represent the geographic alignment or misalignment between estimated eligibility, demand, and utilization of subsidized care. Multiple regression analyses will explore how demographic and economic factors influence alignment or mismatch between these estimates. Findings: Preliminary maps show the overall alignment between estimated eligibility, demand, and utilization of subsidized care. However, they also reveal regional variation, including a mismatch between estimated eligibility and realized demand in western areas and mismatch between realized demand and utilization in southern and southeast areas. Multiple regression models will be used to analyze factors associated with the mismatch patterns of eligibility, demand, and utilization. Implications: This research has important policy implications for child care subsidy policies. By identifying disparities in eligibility, demand, and utilization, the study offers insights into improving program accessibility and efficacy. Findings may inform targeted interventions to address regional or socioeconomic disparities, optimizing resource allocation for vulnerable families statewide. The results also have broader implications for other states seeking to understand and reduce disparities in child care subsidy use, supporting better outcomes for children across diverse contexts. |
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| Paper #3 | |
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| Preliminary Results from Childcare Expansion Policies in New Mexico: Perspectives from Families and Providers | |
| Author information | Role |
| Mrs. Mary Nava, University of New Mexico, United States | Presenting author |
| Dana Bell, University of New Mexico, Cradle to Career Policy Institute, United States | Non-presenting author |
| David Purcell, University of New Mexico, Cradle to Career Policy Institute, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Andrew L. Breidenbach, University of New Mexico, Cradle to Career Policy Institute, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Monica Fiorella Asencio Pimentel, University of New Mexico, Cradle to Career Policy Institute, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Jill Okun, University of New Mexico, Cradle to Career Policy Institute, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Hailey Heinz, University of New Mexico, Cradle to Career Policy Institute, United States | Non-presenting author |
| Abstract | |
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Introduction. In 2021, New Mexico took dramatic steps toward making free childcare universally available to its families. Income eligibility for childcare subsidies increased to 400% of federal poverty ($103,280 in annual income for a family of three), with copays waived for all participating families. The state also significantly raised subsidy reimbursement rates for care providers, in alignment with cost modeling reflecting the true cost of providing quality care. This research investigates the initial outcomes of those policy changes, examining trends in care capacity and family enrollment, provider perspectives on whether the changes have enhanced their ability to provide high-quality care, and the experiences of families who are newly income eligible. While these initiatives are expected to result in greater subsidized care capacity and family enrollment into subsidies, we examine whether barriers may impede the ability of providers and families to actually offer and access quality care. Methods. We drew on multiple methodological approaches. Using administrative data, we examined changes over time in care capacity and provider participation in the subsidy system, as well as the characteristics and number of families using subsidy services after the adoption of expansion policies. Through survey and interview data from childcare owners/directors, we explored the effect of policy changes on provider operations, barriers and facilitators to operational success, willingness to accept subsidies, and expansion of care capacity. Interviews with newly eligible parents explored their experiences with the program and factors that might account for subsidy use patterns. Key areas explored through interviews included families’ awareness and perceptions of the subsidy program, effort required to apply, benefits of program access, and whether the care available meets family needs. Results. Preliminary findings suggest the number of families enrolled in childcare subsidies rebounded since the pandemic, increasing by 39% from Spring 2022 to 2023. The supply of licensed care slots increased by 6% during that time. Surveys and interviews with providers indicate that policy changes have supported stability in their businesses, but that barriers remain including difficulties in hiring and retaining staff, and reimbursement rates not matching actual operating costs. Newly eligible parents reported substantial financial and employment benefits from receipt of subsidies, as well as benefits to children through opportunities for socialization, being in structured learning environments, and monitoring of developmental milestones. Families said the subsidy enabled access to a wider variety of quality care options that they otherwise could not afford. Implications. This study has implications for understanding the practical challenges and preliminary benefits of state efforts to implement near-universal subsidized childcare. New Mexico is an important site for study because the state has made significant investments in childcare access policies as a strategy to address socioeconomic challenges that leave the state near the bottom of most national child wellbeing rankings. Understanding whether those policies expanded equitable access to high-quality childcare is essential to guide New Mexico’s policy implementation and to inform other states considering similar approaches. |
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Investigating Multiple Dimensions of Child Care Access for Subsidy-Eligible Families: Results from Three States
Submission Type
Paper Symposium
Description
| Session Title | Investigating Multiple Dimensions of Child Care Access for Subsidy-Eligible Families: Results from Three States |