The Future of Campus Childcare

2 National Situation “There is no shortage of child care in an absolute numerical sense” (Financing Child Care: Analysis and Recommendations, 1996)

3 What Are the Gaps Nationally? “There is consistent evidence of a relatively low supply of care: For infants, For school-age children, For children with disabilities and special health care needs… For parents with unconventional or shifting work hours. “These scarcities exacerbate other barriers that low- income families experience in matching type of care used with type of care that best meets their needs.” (National Academy of Sciences, 1995)

4 Campus Situation The Waisman Center offers care for children with special needs The Child Care Tuition Assistance Program addresses the needs of low-income students (and now classified staff!) Center-based childcare for infants and toddlers is scarce: Only about 1/3 of accredited childcare centers provide care for infants younger than about 11 months of age The UW Hospital helped to establish a new childcare center, Great Beginnings, but there is a long waiting list for infant care there Parents whose children take care of themselves after school are significantly less satisfied than other faculty members

5 Campus Situation There is not much capacity for early morning or evening care: Needed by physicians, laboratory scientists, students, and others Only 20-25% of accredited childcare centers start before 7:00 None provide care after 6:00! There is little capacity for emergency/backup/drop-in care or sick childcare service: For when childcare arrangements fall through (Usual childcare provider is unavailable, or child gets sick) Needed by employees who might lose jobs: Also by people whose skills are urgently needed (transplant surgeons)

6 Goal Scarce campus resources should be targeted to areas of greatest need!