Growing up, I spent more time at child care than at home. My single mom, juggling long hours at work, entrusted me to Angela, our local in-home childcare provider. Angela welcomed children into her home as if they were her own.

Her house wasn’t just a place where I spent my days; it was my second home, filled with the soft hum of children’s laughter. The walls were adorned with colorful drawings and there was always a mountain of children’s shoes in front of the door. I would wake up each morning just as the sun was rising and I would stay at Angela’s until sunset.

Nearly 15 years later, I took a job at a small locally-owned childcare center. I was eager to provide the same kind of care I had received as a child. The days were long —10-hour shifts that left me exhausted, yet fulfilled. Each day, I poured my heart into the work, ensuring that every child felt the same warmth and security I had known.

But the reality of the job hit hard. Despite the emotional rewards, I was paid just $10.10 an hour. It was a grueling reality check. The work of early childhood education (ECE) professionals is invaluable, yet we were paid so little that staying in the field felt almost impossible. The disparity between the importance of the job and the compensation was staggering, and it became clear how deeply undervalued these essential workers are.

In 2021, life came full circle when I temporarily welcomed a baby boy into my home. I was determined to find him nurturing child care. But as I made call after call — over 50 childcare centers in total — the harsh reality of today’s childcare crisis became painfully clear. Every center was full, and some waitlists stretched as long as two years. In the end, I had to rely on a friend who was a stay-at-home mom to care for him. It was a stark reminder of how much things have changed — and not for the better. The system that once supported me as a child is now failing the next generation.

The ripple effects of our childcare crisis

Wisconsin, where I live, is facing a childcare crisis of epic proportions. Providers are disappearing, costs are skyrocketing, and accessing childcare is slipping out of reach for too many families. Both rural and urban areas have become childcare deserts, leaving parents scrambling for affordable and reliable options. Research shows over half of Wisconsinites live in a childcare desert. The root cause? Rising operational costs and a glaring lack of state and federal support.

Childcare professionals, the very backbone of this essential service, are reaching their breaking point. Many are being forced out of the profession or closing their doors altogether because they simply can’t afford to keep going. The cost of supplies, rent, and wages is climbing, while state funding has either stagnated or decreased. This financial squeeze is making it nearly impossible to sustain a childcare business.

The reality is stark: a report from the Century Foundation predicts that with the end of federal COVID funds stabilizing Wisconsin’s childcare industry in 2024, over 2,110 programs are expected to close, leaving up to 87,000 children without care. The loss of these childcare programs will have far-reaching consequences. When parents are unable to find reliable childcare, they are often forced to reduce their work hours, decline promotions, or even leave the workforce entirely.

This not only impacts individual families but also has a significant effect on the broader economy. The ripple effects of these closures could cost Wisconsin more than $232 million in lost parental wages, according to the Century Foundation. Without access to affordable and dependable childcare, parents — particularly women — will find it increasingly difficult to maintain stable employment, further exacerbating economic inequality and slowing workforce participation.

The programs that manage to survive will likely have to raise tuition by about 25%, or $50 per child per week, making child care even less accessible for working families. According to Childcare Aware, in Wisconsin center-based infant care averaged $13,572 annually in 2021, consuming 12% of a married couple’s median income and 40% of a single parent’s median income. Family child care, typically run out of a provider’s home, was slightly lower at $10,400 annually, or 9% of a married couple’s income and 30% of a single parent’s income. As a result, Wisconsin’s economy is estimated to lose between $4 and $6 billion annually due to the lack of accessible childcare, a figure that includes lost wages, decreased productivity, and the broader economic impact of parents being pushed out of their jobs​.

Childcare providers are taking matters into their own hands

Throughout history, labor movements have played a crucial role in shaping the rights and protections we often take for granted today. The successes of these movements were not just victories for the workers themselves but also for society at large, leading to the creation of a more equitable and just economy. Now, we find ourselves at another critical juncture — this time in the fight to save Wisconsin’s childcare system.

Just as steelworkers, miners, and teachers before them, today’s childcare providers are organizing and fighting back against the forces threatening their livelihoods and the futures of the children they care for. And just like those workforces, we know the success of our childcare providers means the success of the rest of our society.

A movement is growing, led by ECE professionals who are refusing to stand by as their industry crumbles. Unlike past labor movements where broad community support often drove change — such as the widespread solidarity during the fight for factory workers’ rights in the early 20th century — today’s childcare providers are finding themselves on the front lines, with limited public awareness and support.

In the past, labor movements were often buoyed by large-scale public backing and the recognition of shared struggles. However, childcare providers today face a unique challenge: their work is undervalued, and their struggles are often invisible, leaving them to lead this fight for fair wages and sustainable funding with far less community engagement. Not to mention the role of racism and sexism as this disproportionately women-of-color led field is left to shoulder the burden of an underfunded system, while mothers are expected to come up with their own solutions for balancing work and child care.

Childcare professionals are leading the charge, fighting not just for their own livelihoods but for the future of Wisconsin’s children and communities. Despite the lack of adequate support, they are rallying for the change our state desperately needs. Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed (WECAN), a grassroots advocacy group founded by childcare professionals in 2020, is at the forefront of this movement. They’re calling for increased public investment in early childhood education to ensure that providers receive the necessary support to keep their doors open.

According to WECAN’s Co-Founder Corrine Hendrickson, “By not investing in childcare, we are damaging our economy, impacting our children’s future, and placing an unsustainable burden on families across Wisconsin.” With 17 years of experience in childcare and running Corrine’s Little Explorers, she has been leading this fight with WECAN since co-founding it in 2020. She has united 1,500 childcare providers, professionals, and allies to advocate for a fully invested system where every family can access quality care, and where wages and benefits reflect the true value of childcare work.

Through their research, WECAN uncovered a troubling statistic: Wisconsin has lost over 5,000 childcare programs since 2007, leaving many families without access to essential services. In response, WECAN has organized rallies, held press conferences, done podcast and news interviews, created an advocacy binder of resources, and sent hundreds of letters to representatives. Members have testified before the Assembly and Senate, met with the Governor of Wisconsin, and hosted bipartisan tours of childcare centers to emphasize the urgent need for investment in the sector. Community conversations and published letters to editors have further raised awareness about the critical importance of accessible, affordable childcare.

Hendrickson is one of the key leaders and said she is “organizing centers that are fighting each day to stay open.” She aims to unite these centers “to amplify their voices, advocate for sustainable funding, and ensure that every child has access to quality care.”

Child care needs long-term investments, not band-aids

A key initiative in this fight to keep childcare centers open is the Child Care Counts program. Launched during the pandemic, this temporary program provided financial lifelines to struggling providers, helping them keep their doors open and their staff paid. Between 2019 and 2023, Child Care Counts coupled with federal funding for subsidies for childcare centers led to a 900-program increase in those accepting Wisconsin Shares and raised wages by an average of $3 an hour, bringing them up to $13.66, according to the Supporting Families Together Foundation.

But this program is a temporary band-aid because the funding itself is temporary. While it adds to wages, it does little to address the deep structural issues plaguing child care, such as low numbers of people entering the field, persistent low pay despite some state investment, and the ongoing struggle to recruit and retain staff. In July 2023, Governor Evers renewed the program by reallocating $170 million in ARPA emergency funds from the original federal COVID dollars that initially created it. While $170 million may sound like a substantial amount, it is rapidly depleting, and there is no permanent solution in place to support our childcare businesses. The funding is expected to run out by July 2025.

When I recently spoke with Lisa, a dedicated child care owner in Milwaukee who has been serving her community for over 20 years, the challenges facing the industry became painfully clear. As I walked into her cozy center I heard a group of six young children practicing their ABCs. Lisa’s voice was filled with emotion. “If Child Care Counts ends, I don’t know how we’ll keep going,” she said, her eyes welling up. “I’ve had to dip into my own savings just to stay afloat. I’m not sure how much longer I can do this.” The thought of closing her childcare weighs heavily on her, knowing it would leave seven families without a place for their children.

The industry overall faces a severe staffing shortage, with a national shortage of over 39,000 childcare workers. This shortage leads to longer waitlists, reduced hours, and fewer children being served, further straining families who rely on these services. The median hourly wage of Wisconsin childcare workers is $13.78, and more than 53% of childcare workers receive public assistance. Beyond inadequate pay, high turnover rates, the lack of benefits, and the physically and emotionally demanding nature of the work also contribute to the ongoing struggle to attract and retain qualified childcare professionals.

Childcare professionals often care for large groups of children, requiring constant attention, energy, and patience. The physical toll of lifting, bending, and managing active children all day, combined with the emotional weight of ensuring each child’s well-being, makes the job incredibly taxing. Many workers are left overworked and exhausted, with little time or energy to spend with their own families, making it an unsustainable career for far too many.

Moreover, childcare providers are also burdened by rising operational costs. Everything from supplies to rent has increased, and many providers find themselves dipping into their own savings just to keep their doors open​. This financial strain is unsustainable, yet necessary to maintain the quality of care that children need during their critical early years. Parents can’t afford childcare on their own, in all 50 states the price of center-based care for two children exceeds the average annual rent.

Statewide, the average annual cost of infant care is $12,567 — that’s more than in-state tuition at a public four-year college. It’s not sustainable to expect families to shoulder these costs alone, and we urgently need systemic solutions with government investment in childcare to ensure that quality care is accessible and affordable for everyone.

The reality is that these systemic issues are pushing childcare workers to their limits, forcing them to fight for their businesses, their livelihood, and the well-being of the children they care for. Despite the essential role they play, childcare workers are often left to battle these challenges alone, without the broader community or parents fully mobilizing in support​.

Broader community support for childcare workers is the missing piece

This situation echoes past labor movements where workers rose up to demand fair treatment and pay. Today, childcare providers are doing the same — fighting for the future of their businesses, the children in their care, and the families they serve. With strong support from parents and the community, this movement can gain even more momentum and make a lasting impact. Parents have a powerful role to play, and by teaming up with the providers they trust, they can help shape a future where quality childcare is accessible, sustainable, and valued by all.

The importance of early childhood education cannot be overstated. Investing in early childhood education isn’t just about helping working parents — it’s about securing the long-term well-being of our children. Children who have access to early education programs have better education, earnings, and health outcomes compared with children who do not.

State disinvestment in early childhood education is a disservice to Wisconsin’s future. Quality child care should not be a luxury — it’s a necessity that supports the well-being of our communities. When we fail to invest in early education, we undermine the very foundation upon which our children build their futures. And without child care, we put an unfair burden on working parents, forcing them to make impossible choices that could have long-lasting consequences for their family’s mental and emotional health, financial stability and their children’s development.

But the lack of sufficient childcare isn’t just a family issue — it’s an economic one that the rest of the community should care about, too. Businesses are feeling the strain as more parents are forced to leave the workforce due to inadequate childcare options. This results in lost productivity, higher turnover rates, and increased recruitment and training costs. When parents can’t find reliable childcare, they often have to reduce their work hours or leave the workforce entirely, exacerbating the labor shortage and cutting household incomes. This strain impacts not only families, but also local businesses and the state’s overall economic health.

Past movements for better wages and improved working conditions have been successful before, often facing immense challenges to secure the rights many take for granted today. The 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where labor activists rallied for an eight-hour workday, marked a pivotal moment in the labor movement, symbolizing the struggle for fair treatment. Similarly, the 1930s sit-down strikes led by the United Auto Workers were instrumental in establishing the power of unions to negotiate fair wages and labor rights. The Labor Day we just celebrated, established as a federal holiday in 1894 following the Pullman Strike and the efforts of the American Federation of Labor, serves as a testament to these historic battles.

Today’s childcare workers are continuing this legacy, demanding recognition, fair wages, and sustainable support that reflect the critical role they play in our society. Just as those earlier movements reshaped the labor landscape, the current fight for a just and equitable childcare system is essential for building a stronger community for all and expanding worker’s rights.

Across the United States, early childhood educators are leading powerful advocacy efforts to secure better wages, working conditions, and support for the vital services they provide. In 2023 due to advocacy by childcare professionals, the state of California and Child Care Providers United (CCPU) approved a 20% average pay increase for childcare providers using state funding.  In Washington DC SEIU 925 has successfully negotiated significant wage increases and benefits for childcare providers, and groups like Spaces in Action have fought to win a pay equity fund, with health insurance for their providers, setting a powerful precedent for others across the country.

These efforts are not isolated. From New Yorkers United for Childcare to Michigan Child Care Provider Collective to WECAN in Wisconsin, childcare professionals are coming together, bringing people together for collective action, and demanding systemic change to secure sustainable funding and support for the childcare industry. Parent-led movements like Parent Voices in California are also stepping up, working alongside providers to create powerful alliances. Their collaboration with the CCPU in hosting joint events is a strong model of provider-parent solidarity, demonstrating the impact that can be achieved when both groups unite in this cause. And with broader community support, we could be an unstoppable force to realize a 21st century child care system.

Reflecting on the struggles faced by childcare providers like Lisa and Corrine, I can’t help but think back to Angela, who cared for me as a child. My mother received a childcare subsidy that helped pay Angela, allowing her to provide quality care in a nurturing environment. Back then, the subsidy was a lifeline, making it possible for low-income families like mine to afford quality care. But today, those subsidies haven’t kept up with inflation and remain stagnant, leaving both families and providers struggling to make ends meet.

The conditions that once allowed Angela to thrive and offer loving care are no longer in place. As we confront these challenges, it’s clear that without significant investment and updated support systems, we risk losing the very foundation of quality childcare. If we want future generations to have the same sense of safety and belonging that Angela provided, we must act now to ensure that our childcare professionals can continue their essential work.

WECAN’s efforts are a rallying cry for all of Wisconsin. As we come off of celebrating Labor Day, let’s keep the momentum going by standing with these advocates, amplifying their voices, and working together to build a stronger, more equitable future for our children, our communities, and the dedicated professionals who care for them.