Research tells us that quality early childhood education care provides a solid foundation for future success and has long term academic and social benefits for the child and society. The evidence is clear – children who participate in high-quality programs during their early years demonstrate lasting effects on IQ, boosted academic and economic achievement, and lower incidences of childhood obesity and chronic illness. Even so, every state has its own unique child care landscape. Child Care Aware® of America’s 2018 State Fact Sheets provide a snapshot of child care availability, quality rating systems, and other programs occurring at the state level. Data was gathered from federal and national sources and from our state Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency networks and other state-level contacts surveyed in 2018. Please join us in spreading the word about child care facts in your state.

This year’s, Checking In: A Snapshot of the Child Care Landscape – 2018 Report (pdf) provides a brief overview of the child care landscape nationwide. Our state fact sheets include information about services provided by CCR&Rs, emergency preparedness in states, and child care supply for infants and toddlers.

Finally, we are pleased to include the 2018 Share Toolkit, which includes social media content for Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as shareable graphics.

We encourage you to use these State Fact Sheets to inform state and local policymakers on child care issues in your state and take action now by visiting our action center to advocate for child care with our state and national leaders!

Looking for a quick overview of what to expect with this year’s state fact sheets? Take a look at our recorded webinar.