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Because the economics of child care simply don’t work.
The average New Hampshire family spends between 18-25% of its annual income on child care, while the average child care provider in the state earns $14,000 a year with little or no benefits. Staff turnover in the child care field can be as high as 41% in some programs, mainly attributed to this poor compensation. (The Governor’s Business Commission on Child Care and Early Childhood Education, Executive Summary, 2000.) In light of the current research that asserts the chief causes of poor quality child care are high employee turnover and inexperienced staff, this statistic is especially alarming.
Child care cannot continue to be funded on the backs of parents and providers alone. We need the support of our communities to ensure that children receive the kind of early care and education they need to develop into healthy, contributing adults. It is our legacy to do what is right for our children today, so they may carry on the work of the world tomorrow.
The lack of affordable, quality child care in New Hampshire not only affects children and families, but also has a significant impact on our state businesses. According to survey results from 2000, almost 25% of working parents reported that at least one parent had to quit his or her job or switch from full-time to part-time work because due to the lack of child care. In New Hampshire alone, businesses lose as much as $24,000,000 a year of child care related staff absenteeism or turnover.
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