Childcare costs are the top expense for families in Southern California. The average cost of childcare is $1,500 per month, with some parents spending up to $5,000 a month on their children.
The average child care cost per month is the top expense for SoCal families. In fact, it’s the second-highest expense for households in California.
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (CBSLA) – Childcare is now the most expensive item for families in Southern California, according to experts, who believe the epidemic has exacerbated an already-broken system.
Daycare prices in Los Angeles County have increased 50% in the past six years, according to a new research by the Insight Center, and families from all over the Southland claim they can’t find cheap and accessible childcare. (CBSLA)
Daycare prices in Los Angeles County have increased 50% in the past six years, according to a new research by the Insight Center, and families from all over the Southland claim they can’t find cheap and accessible childcare.
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Stefanee Becklund, a single mother, stated, “I called every daycare from Fontana, Rialto, Rancho, Chino, Upland, nothing.” “Everything had a ten- to twenty-person waitlist.”
Minimum-wage parents are fighting to keep the lights on, and moms are caught in the middle.
Experts in the childcare sector believe there was problems before to the epidemic, and it has only grown worse since then.
“The disparities are enormous,” said Christina Alvarado, executive director of the Los Angeles Childcare Alliance. “They’re no longer gaps; I’m referring to them as valleys and gorges. The daycare sector is now in a state of emergency.”
Kristine Lazar reported in May that more than 8,500 childcare centers in California closed between March 2020 and May 2021. Over 3,000 of them have permanently shuttered, displacing thousands of individuals in need of assistance.
Stefanee Becklund has a 6-year-old kid and is a single mother. She works long hours as a store manager and has been looking for summer care since her son graduated from high school, but has been unsuccessful so far.
She has resorted to hiring a babysitter for $500 a week, maxing up her credit cards, and even taking out a loan to cover her expenses.
“It’s getting to the point where I’m thinking, ‘Do I need to go on unemployment and quit working because I can’t afford to pay all the bills,’” she said. “Because, you know, I promise you, that’s probably what a lot of single parents or low-income parents are doing right now.”
President Joe Biden has set aside $25 billion to aid with the stabilization of the daycare sector, with over $2 billion going to California.
When asked what was required to solve the increasing problem, Alvarado replied, “I believe the whole voucher system has to be looked at and expanded.”
Currently, state-funded childcare providers get vouchers at the 2016 market rate, while the median pay for childcare employees in California is just $13.43 per hour.
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“So, when you think about raising the minimum wage to $15, providers are far behind,” Alvarado said. “What we find is that the daycare providers are poor themselves,” says the researcher.
Because of the poor pay, many people have had to look for work outside of the sector.
“A number of employees have decided not to return,” said Keesha Woods, executive director of the Los Angeles County Head Start Program. “We already had a teacher shortage before the epidemic, and we now have an even worse one. We won’t be able to start classes because of that.”
While everyone agrees that there is a daycare crisis, Woods claims that many parents are unaware that they are eligible for assistance. She claims that the county program serves 10,000 students and that barely 80% of them are registered.
“We are nearing full operational capability of our centers, and we have centers and slots available in every board of supervisors area,” she added.
While the program is based on income, she claims that it also helps unhoused families, including those in transition, such as those who have temporarily moved in with relatives.
“So contact us before you claim you’re not eligible,” Wood said.
Becklund said she tried reaching out to referral organizations in her area but was unsuccessful.
“I earn too much,” she said, “but it’s hard to say I make too much when I’m actually living paycheck to paycheck.”
California is contemplating increasing childcare voucher levels, which would help keep centers operating and allow providers to pay more competitive rates. Experts believe that, in addition to state and federal financing, the sector needs improved support for working families, such as flexible hours, remote work, and on-site daycare.
The Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles website has additional information about daycare choices for anyone looking for childcare in Los Angeles County. Online or by phoning 1-877-773-5543, you may learn more about Head Start programs.
The Pomona Unified School District’s website offers information for individuals looking for alternatives in the Inland Empire. For additional information, people may contact 909-397-4740. The Child Care Resource Center, which may be contacted at 866-674-5437, also provides information about daycare choices on its website.
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Additional resources may be obtained on the California Department of Social Services website, the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network website, or by contacting CalWORKS Child Care at 800-543-7793 in the state of California.
The state of california child care rates 2020 is a study that has been released by the state of California. It ranks childcare as the top expense for families in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost for daycare in california?
The average cost for daycare in California is $8,000 per year.
What state has the highest daycare cost?
The state with the highest daycare cost is California.
What is the average cost of child care in the us?
The average cost of child care in the United States is $11,000 a year.
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