Regular child care remains challenging for families with young children in California, according to recent findings by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. In 2023, less than half of children aged 0–5 had regular child care arrangements. Families cited affordability, lack of available space, and concerns about quality as significant barriers.
The UCLA Center’s study, based on the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), highlighted disparities in child care access. Young Latino children, comprising 46.6% of the state’s 0–5 age group, along with children from low-income households, were less likely to have regular arrangements. The report defines “regular child care” as 10 or more hours per week, excluding care from parents, guardians, or stepparents.
Lead study author Nicole Lordi from the Public Health Institute stated, “High-quality child care remains out of reach for too many families in California. A lack of regular child care acts as a drag on socioeconomic mobility and overall well-being for families.”
The research shows a correlation between household income and access to child care. Over half (53.7%) of children in households earning at least 300% of the federal poverty level ($90,000 for a family of four) had regular care, whereas less than a quarter (23.1%) of households earning between 100–199% of the federal poverty level had regular arrangements.
Ninez A. Ponce, director of the UCLA CHPR, emphasized the need for accurate data to resolve child care access issues: “It’s gratifying to work with partners like First 5 California that leverage publicly accessible CHIS data to help create a California where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Findings also revealed that 17% of parents with young children could not find child care when needed for a week or longer. The cost was the most reported barrier, cited by 49.7% of these parents. Other issues included quality and space (26.1%), inconvenient hours or locations (8%), and various other reasons (16.2%).
Race and ethnicity break down showed specific trends. In 2023, 56.7% of white children had regular child care, contrasted with 34.3% of young Latino children, 55.9% of young Black or African American children, and 53.5% of young Asian children.
Lordi expressed particular concern about rising difficulties in securing reliable child care, noting, “What’s particularly concerning is that access to reliable, regular child care is getting more difficult.”
From 2019 to 2023, the cost of child care climbed for many households. In 2023, 70% of families with young children spent $200 or more weekly on care, up from 40% in 2019. This accounts for an annual expense of around $10,000.
California ranks 35th nationally in child well-being per the “2023 KIDS COUNT” data by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The report connects this ranking to challenges families face in securing affordable and quality child care. Subsidies for child care exist, yet only 11% of eligible children benefited in 2022.
Jackie Thu-Hương Wong of First 5 California remarked on the report’s significance: “This report highlights the challenges of accessing stable child care for working families across the state, with a disproportionate impact on Latinos and low-income communities. When children are in safe, stable, and nurturing environments, they thrive, as do our communities. Investing in affordable care can generate more than $60 billion in economic activity and drive growth across our state.”
