Posted: Feb 1, 2022 / 17:56 EST
/ Updated: Feb 1, 2022 / 22:52 EST
INDIANAPOLIS – Indian lawmakers have come forward with an effort to try to reduce child-care deserts in the Hoosier State.
Senate Bill 404 passed the state Senate unanimously Tuesday and is now going to the House for consideration. According to the author of the bill, State Senator Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis), 55% of Indiana counties have child-care deserts, areas that offer few options for families.
Finding accessible and affordable child care has been a long-term struggle for many Hoosier parents.
“Early childhood education is much more than learning letters and numbers,” said Trish Mastin, director of Lil ‘Tigers Academy in rural Rush County.
According to Mastin, her facility is the only state-accredited child care facility in Rush County.
Her preschool can accommodate 20 children but has a few openings now.
“Some parents have travel issues, but I also think parents have to choose between affordability, accessibility, and there just isn’t much of that,” Mastin said.
Mastin said her team is working to connect families in need with state aid.
However, she wants to see officials look for long-term solutions to make childcare more accessible.
“Moms have retired from our workforce under the pandemic specifically due to lack of access to affordable childcare,” Qaddoura said.
Maureen Weber of Early Learning Indiana said she believes it is a critical time to examine possible solutions.
“One of the challenges we have and really see this all over the state is just a lack of early care and education workforce,” Weber said.
Indiana has received more than $ 1 billion in federal emergency funding from COVID specifically for early childhood education, Weber said.
“Grants are being sent by the state right now to early care and education providers,” she said. “So we as suppliers really need to take the opportunity to grab those dollars to make some long-term changes.”
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