A new policy report on childcare by the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce shows many ways care can be improved in the commonwealth. Dozens of organizations and businesses provided input for the report.
People with small children need help to remain active members of the workforce. According to the report, access to quality, affordable childcare can be a problem for many people.
Charles Aull is the policy chief for the Chamber. In an interview with WEKU's Eastern Standard, he said a state-supported childcare system benefits more people than many think.
“If you're a person that, perhaps doesn't have young children yourself, and that includes a lot of people in Kentucky, however, your doctor may have young kids, the police officers you depend on for public safety, they might have young kids, paramedics, they might have young kids, the K through 12 teachers, they might have young kids.”
Aull said the Childcare Assistance Program is funded through the Childcare Development Fund, a federal funding stream. He said there are no talks of major cuts to that program, but others are at risk.
“There are obviously big conversations about Head Start. So, we do have a lot of kids that utilize Head Start programs in Kentucky and there have been some federal discussions about potentially pulling back or ending that funding.”
Aull said finding access to quality and affordable childcare can be a problem for many people.
He said parents and guardians with access to childcare have more opportunities to contribute to the state's workforce.
