Solve Child Care in West Virginia
Please join us in asking Governor Justice to address the child care crisis in West Virginia.
Despite a lot of discussion about the importance of child care, lawmakers failed to pass any legislation to address the child care crisis in West Virginia. Governor Justice and legislators need to hear from you!
Please contact Governor Jim Justice and tell him to add funding for child care to his call for a Legislative Special Session in May.
Background
The cost of child care is out of reach for many of our state’s families. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the annual cost of child care in West Virginia for an infant is nearly $9,000. Child care for two children — an infant and a 4-year-old — costs more than $16,000 per year. That’s higher than the cost of in-state tuition at Marshall University or West Virginia University. As a result, one parent often makes the difficult choice to set aside their career and care for their children, straining household finances.
Even if a family can afford child care, much of our state is a child care desert. Many corners of the state have no child care providers, while others have limited availability and long waiting lists. Statewide, nearly 26,000 West Virginian children are unable to access child care.
These numbers represent real people. Their parents are moms and dads who want to work to provide for their family, but need access to affordable child care to do so. This is why child care workers are sometimes called “the workforce behind the workforce.” Lack of access to affordable child care is the most significant barrier to improving our state’s workforce participation rate.
Please use this form and tell Governor Justice and your legislators why child care is important to you!
Solve Child Care in West Virginia
Please join us in asking Governor Justice to address the child care crisis in West Virginia.
Despite a lot of discussion about the importance of child care, lawmakers failed to pass any legislation to address the child care crisis in West Virginia. Governor Justice and legislators need to hear from you!
Please contact Governor Jim Justice and tell him to add funding for child care to his call for a Legislative Special Session in May.
Background
The cost of child care is out of reach for many of our state’s families. According to the Economic Policy Institute, the annual cost of child care in West Virginia for an infant is nearly $9,000. Child care for two children — an infant and a 4-year-old — costs more than $16,000 per year. That’s higher than the cost of in-state tuition at Marshall University or West Virginia University. As a result, one parent often makes the difficult choice to set aside their career and care for their children, straining household finances.
Even if a family can afford child care, much of our state is a child care desert. Many corners of the state have no child care providers, while others have limited availability and long waiting lists. Statewide, nearly 26,000 West Virginian children are unable to access child care.
These numbers represent real people. Their parents are moms and dads who want to work to provide for their family, but need access to affordable child care to do so. This is why child care workers are sometimes called “the workforce behind the workforce.” Lack of access to affordable child care is the most significant barrier to improving our state’s workforce participation rate.
Please use this form and tell Governor Justice and your legislators why child care is important to you!