Government : Update From the Iowa Capitol 2/24/22

Working families have been struggling for years with Iowa's limited child care options. Some can't find child care at all; others can't find child care they can afford. It's limiting their ability to work and worsening the workforce crisis.

A proposal passed in the Senate this week won't fix the problem. On February 21, the Senate approved a bill (SF 2268) that would increase the number of toddlers that each child care worker is responsible for: one worker to seven 2-year-olds, and one worker to ten 3-year-olds.

The child care ratio refers to the number of adults who are on hand to teach and care for children who are playing, eating, sleeping and learning. Lower ratios mean children get more one-on-one attention to help them grow and develop. This bill does the opposite, and that's one of the reasons I opposed it.

At the very least, parents should be notified if a child care provider decides to add more kids without adding more staff. That's information every parent deserves to know, but a commonsense, pro-parent amendment I supported to ensure that happens was voted down.

Packing more kids into a day care home or child care center isn't a solution. This approach certainly won't encourage more Iowans to work in the child care field. It also won't give parents peace of mind that their kids are in a safe, nurturing environment when they leave for work each day.

Child care providers and advocates have criticized the bill. They say it will add strain to an already stressful, low-paying job, while reducing the quality of care. Instead, they want to see their work professionalized.

If we want to fix the workforce crisis, we need to ensure families have access to safe, affordable child care in every Iowa community. That means investing in high-quality facilities; ensuring providers have the resources to keep the doors open, as well as the pay and benefits to provide for their own families; and helping parents with the high cost of child care while they work or train for jobs.

We can do that by lowering income taxes for middle-class Iowans; expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and gradually tapering off eligibility as Iowans get better job opportunities; and increasing the state's Earned Income Tax Credit.

State Senator Eric Giddens represents Iowa Senate District 38, which includes Cedar Falls, Hudson, Traer, Dysart, Evansdale, Elk Run Heights, Gilbertville, Washburn, LaPorte City and Mount Auburn. Contact him at 319-230-0578 or eric.giddens@legis.iowa.gov.