“I’ve totally washed away the dream of having one more child.” “I had never intended to be a stay-at-home-parent, but the cost of child care turned me into one.” “We had to pull our toddler out of his program because we couldn’t afford to have two kids in high-quality care.” These are not the voices of those down on their luck, but the voices of America’s middle class. The lack of affordable, available, high-quality childcare is a boulder on the backs of all but the most affluent. Millions of hard-working families are left gasping for air while the next generation misses out on a strong start. To date, we’ve been fighting this five-alarm fire with the policy equivalent of beach toy water buckets. It’s time for a bold investment in America’s families and America’s future. There’s only one viable solution: Childcare should be free.

Valerie Polakow spent a year traveling around the country listening to low-income women from diverse backgrounds tell their stories of struggle, resilience, distress, and occasional success as they encountered ongoing child care crises. The resulting work is both a compelling account of the lived realities of the child care crisis, and an incisive critique of public policy that points to the United States as an outlier in the international community. Drawing on historical and international perspectives, Polakow creates a groundbreaking analysis of child care as a human right, persuasively arguing for a universal child care system. “Who Cares for Our Children? is one of the most disturbing books I have read in a long time. It should have a major impact on debates over poverty and social policy.” —From the Foreword by Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed “In this beautifully written and provocative volume, Polakow deftly steps aside and lets real mothers, struggling against the odds to keep their families safe and sound, speak for themselves about what they need. This book delivers a timely message: Child care should be viewed as a human right.” —Martha F. Davis, Northeastern University School of Law “A collection of moving and often chilling personal narratives. . . . Who Cares for Our Children? is a powerful and well-documented analysis of the worlds of low-income families.” —Beth Blue Swadener, Arizona State University “Thoroughly researched and grounded in a heartfelt sympathy for the struggles of families . . . that face such painful choices and dilemmas in meeting the needs of their children.” —James Garbarino, Loyola University Chicago

Confronting the Child Care Crisis is an outstanding, historically important analysis of childcare dynamics and a practical guidebook for change is essential reading about unmet needs of childcare. Based on years of personal, professional experience, facts and problems show how inadequate childcare significantly contributes to a national dilemma of increased family stress. Recounting experiences in the federal government, Dr. Auerbach reveals red-tape, overlapping services, mismanagement, wasted resources, and how lack of interest and consistent political support stalled critically important legislation, hampering vital programs that could make a huge difference. Dr. Auerbach shows how childcare leaders can respond to improve services at federal, state and local levels, suggesting ways to build bridges of cooperation between government, industry, and local resources to make important changes and improvements. This book includes President Richard Nixon’s 1971 veto message after the bi-partisan approved and endorsed childcare legislation (Title V Child Development Programs of S 2007-Economic Opportunity Amendment). Full statements are included from Senators Walter Mondale and Alan Cranston plus The National Plan of Action presented by the National Women’s Conference, held in November, 1977.

One of America's leading child psychiatrists reveals how parents can give young children the very best start while maintaining their working lives.

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The child-care industry--essential to American families and to the American economy--is at risk of complete collapse. Before COVID-19 struck, the child-care industry faced funding issues and staffing dilemmas, while families struggled to find--or simply afford--quality child care. The reality is that COVID-19 has only exacerbated the challenges of the already-fragile child-care ecosystem. America's Child-Care Crisis takes a hard look at the current state of the industry and explores how to save this critical service by: Identifying the systemic changes needed Altering public opinion of the field Securing state and federal dollars for the private sector Prioritizing the growth of family child-care homes Educating parents on quality care and helping them access it Obtaining business support Child-care is a system that is too critical to fail--we cannot survive without it. Together, we can reimagine the child-care industry for all Americans whose livelihoods depend on it.