How To Make A Difference

Five Things You Can Do About Child Care in Your Community

Look: Is the child care in your community of good quality? Is safe and stimulating care available for babies and toddlers? Is there care for school-age children before and after school and during vacations? How many families lack affordable reliable care? Are there long waiting lists for child care subsides for working parent? Are employers, local government and community organizations investing in child care?

Listen: Talk to other parents in your workplace and in your community. What are their child care needs? Think about what you can do together in your community to make child care better and more affordable for all working parents.

Ask: Ask your employer, elected officials, school, union, religious, community or professionals organizations what they are doing to help working parents who need child care.

Act: Get involved in the parent organization at your child care center or help start one if none exists. Find out which local organizations are working to improve child care by contacting your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency. Make a contact with your elected official to share your concerns about the lack of good quality care in your community,

Check: Check on the progress your community is making to meet the child care needs of working parents. Hold elected officials to promises they make. Remind them often that good quality child care is essential for children's healthy growth and development and to keep families in your communities in the workforce. Click here to find your legislator.

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