GUEST COLUMN

As of Sept. 30, $24 billion in child care stabilization funding passed as part of the American Rescue Plan has expired. The unintended consequences of allowing child care funding to lapse could have a long-term ripple effect on our economy, workforce, and the well-being of children in our community. This is why President Joe Biden requested $16 billion in child care funding in a supplemental budget to continue the stabilization of the child care industry.

Here's where you come in. We have a powerful tool-our voices! Let's shout loud and clear to the people who make big decisions that impact our community. Tell your member of Congress, "Our communities and kids matter. Our economy matters. Support the president's funding request for child care."

How often do you think about the places where kids go to learn, have fun, and be safe when they're not in school? If you're a parent of a child ages 0-11, you likely think about it every day. If you don't fall into this category, take a moment to imagine all the ways child care programs hold up our community.

Affordable, reliable, safe and convenient child care is like a big, warm hug for families, making sure kids have all they need to thrive academically, socially and emotionally. These are places kids find caring adult mentors, gain confidence through skill development, and find new passions. These are the places that make it possible for parents to go to work ... reliably ... every day.

They distribute food and foster a community of support with other parents. They come in all shapes and sizes – in-home programs, centers, school-based sites, friends and family care. They are the foundational support system in our community – and we are failing them.

In 2019 – yes, before the pandemic – Childcare Aware of America released a report referring to child care as a "broken system." Underlying this brokenness is the fact that while child care impacts us ALL, most of the burden is put on parents and providers to foot the bill.

So what's the big deal? If you're a single-earner family, you likely pay 35% of your income to enroll your infant in child care. And, if you are a care provider, you operate on razor-thin margins, likely paying employees less than what they can earn making lattes down the street.

COVID highlighted the critical nature of child care programs. Like emergency medical personnel, child care workers were deemed essential. Child care workers stayed on the clock throughout the pandemic so nurses and doctors could be there for the rest of us. As businesses reopened, employers realized that child care is the foundation of a consistent and reliable workforce.

$24 billion was allocated to stabilize the child care industry through the American Rescue Plan. This historic investment in the industry acknowledged the role of child care in our communities and was a first step toward fixing our broken system.

These funds showed that public support of childcare is both necessary and successful in stabilizing the industry. With the initial funding expiring, an estimated 70,000 programs across the country are expected to close their doors. This means over 3.2 million children are at risk of losing care.

Let's learn from our successes and move forward. It's time for us to double down on supporting child care. Child care is a public good that impacts ALL of us.

Give it your time, your consideration, and support.

■ Kyle Cronk is the president and CEO of the South Sound YMCA, the region's largest provider of licensed child care.