The Impact of Child Care Shortages on Caregivers of Young Children and Childcare Providers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• In Event: Exploring the Experiences and Impacts of COVID-19 on Parents, Educators, and Programs for Young Children

Abstract

Introduction
The quality of childcare centers/programs is critical for promoting optimal child development (Duncan & Gibson-Davis, 2006). During the COVID-19 pandemic, childcare closures have brought acute and severe stress to U.S. households with young children (Kalluri, Kelly, & Garg, 2021). Even though many childcare centers/programs have opened up, providers are still struggling with financial security and navigating through disruptions induced by exposure to COVID-19 (Bedrick & Daily, 2021). These challenges may lead to even more severe childcare shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated pandemic-related childcare staffing issues, causes, and impacts from both caregivers’ and childcare providers’ perspectives.

Methods
Data were drawn from a large national longitudinal study using biweekly online surveys to investigate the pandemic impact on U.S. young children (0-5). The study comprised two components, including one household survey and one childcare provider survey. This study leveraged data from both household and provider surveys.

The household survey included data from 3,583 caregivers responding to surveys between May and October 2021 (5.27% Black, 12.02% Hispanic/Latino[a]; 46.16% below 200% FPL). The provider survey included data from 538 childcare providers responding to surveys between September and October 2021 (7.06% Black, 8.55% Hispanic/Latino[a]; 51.92% below 200% federal poverty level), comprising 20.34% childcare center directors, 30.22% center teachers, 38.25% home-based providers, 9.33% family/friends/neighbors, and 1.87% babysitters/nannies. Survey questions developed by the research team assessed caregivers’ and providers’ experiences of childcare staff shortages in the household and provider surveys, respectively. Caregivers’ and providers’ emotional distress were both represented by a composite score of depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness symptoms (range 0-100). Children’s well-being was measured via the sum of internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the household survey only (range 0-100).

Results
In the household survey, 19% of caregivers experienced childcare disruptions, among which 68% were due to staff shortages. Households experiencing childcare disruptions exhibited elevated emotional distress among caregivers (Mdifference=7.41, p<.001) and children (Mdifference=7.03, p<.001). In the provider survey, 91% of center directors and 20% of home-based providers reported staff shortages, causing providers’ worsened well-being (Figure 1). In addition, 87% of center directors and 72% of home-based providers indicated increased difficulty in staff recruitment and retention due to numerous challenges (Figure 2). Forty percent of providers are considering leaving the field next year.

Implications
High-quality childcare is essential for optimal child development. However, as the pandemic continues and staff shortages put increasing pressure on the childcare workforce, many providers are experiencing severe financial insecurity and emotional distress, and are considering leaving the workforce. Policies are urgently needed to support childcare providers, such as providing more financial assistance, ensuring providers to receive adequate wages and satisfactory benefits, assisting providers to find childcare for their own children, and providing essential supplies/support to help providers reduce health and safety concerns regarding COVID-19.

Authors

• Cristi Carman, Stanford University
  Presenting Author

• Sihong Liu, Stanford University

• Joan Lombardi, Georgetown University

• Natalie Renew

• Philip Fisher, Stanford University