Description

In today’s episode, we explore the intricacies of the childcare system with distinguished guests, Jen Huffman and Anna Kresse from the Prenatal-to 3-Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt University. 

Focusing on the enormous ripple effects of investing in affordable, high-quality childcare, our guests highlight the far-reaching benefits of such investments, including enabling thousands of mothers to return to work, lifting children out of poverty, and feeding millions of dollars back into the economy. The discussion explores the difficulties of providing quality childcare at an affordable rate, the need for sustainable funding sources, and the transformative changes implemented by some states to improve their childcare systems.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:01:13] Introducing Jen and Anna
• [00:02:50] The value and impacts of investments in early childhood in Virginia 
• [00:06:15] Leaning into making early childhood care a reality for Virginia families 
• [00:09:42] The reasons why childcare is so expensive 
• [00:13:54] Raising the eligibility for childcare subsidies and making them more affordable
• [00:20:01] Opportunities for states to leverage more money for childcare
• [00:23:37] How states can make the most of the money they have available
• [00:28:12] Streamlining the childcare subsidy system to make it less complicated
• [00:32:57] Why investing in childcare is worthwhile
• [00:33:47] The crucial value of state efforts in funding childcare

Resources

Marnetta Larrimer

Jenn Huffman

Anna Kresse

Report: Articulating the Value of Early Childhood Investments in Virginia

Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center