National Association of Counties
On March 2, the U.S. House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis held a hearing on the unique challenges that families, caregivers and the child care workforce have faced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnesses discussed key areas of vulnerability exacerbated by the pandemic and federal strategies to strengthen the nation’s child care sector. County governments play a significant role in local child care systems and encourage our federal partners to take action to stabilize this critical industry.
Among many of the challenges facing the child care sector, the most pressing include limited slots and exorbitant costs for families. At the same time, low profit margins prevent providers from offering competitive pay and benefits for employees. Low compensation coupled with a high demand workplace environment leads to stress, burnout and turnover, resulting in a steady decline in the child care workforce that the pandemic has only further accelerated. Today, the child care workforce remains 10 percent below pre-pandemic levels, hampering local recovery as parents struggle to find affordable options for their children.
While families and providers received crucial emergency support from federal COVID-19 relief packages, full recovery cannot occur without significant, long-term financial investments from states and the federal government. Counties support swift federal action to ensure high-quality child care is more affordable and available to our residents while ensuring child care workers receive adequate compensation. NACo will continue to work with Congress and other federal agency partners to develop policies that strengthen efforts to support families, child care infrastructure and the child care workforce.
To watch a webcast of the hearing, click here.
<p>When determining local jail population drivers, counties may choose to look at neighboring counties’ data or others within their state and/or nationally as comparisons.
<p>Following the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), counties now have an opportunity to rethink how they provide prescription drug benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees.
<p>Reducing length of stay during the pretrial period will decrease jail populations and allow people to return to the community more quickly to assist with their defense and continue working, attending school, caring for their familie
<p>Reducing the number of people in jail for technical violations can help decrease jail populations and improve outcomes and compliance with supervision conditions.
<p>Reducing the number of people arrested and booked into jails for low-level offenses and misdemeanors through diversion and citations, as well as outstanding warrants for failing to appear in court or not paying fines and fees, can h
<p>Reducing recidivism through effective jail- and community-based services can decrease jail admissions and populations and improve outcomes for people with criminal histories.</p>
<h3><strong>Counties Matter in Human Services</strong></h3>
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<p>All matters pertaining to children’s issues, foster care, public assistance and income support, services to senior citizens and individuals with disabilities, immigration policy, social services, and elementary,
With American Rescue Plan funds, counties are strengthening America’s workforce, addressing the nation’s behavioral health crisis, expanding broadband access, improving housing affordability and building prosperous communities for the next generation.
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