Child Care Deserts in the Gulf Coast

• In Event: Critical Approaches to Family and Community Engagement in Early Childhood

Abstract

This study examines childcare deserts in Texas and the Gulf Coast. Using data from the Texas Workforce Commission, and employing logistic regression, assessment was made on the impact of socioeconomic and racial factors on the likelihood of being a childcare desert. Results indicated that higher household income significantly reduced the probability of an area being a childcare desert statewide, highlighting economic disparities in childcare access. Interestingly, areas with higher proportions of Black residents were less likely to be childcare deserts, however, this racial demographic influence was not significant in the Gulf Coast region, where income disparities were more pronounced. These findings underscore the need for policies that enhance child care accessibility, particularly in low-income regions.

Authors

• Eboni N. Bango, Texas A&M University

• Kristian Edosomwan, University of Houston