Child care is not a "nice to have." It is the everyday support that lets parents go to work and gives young children a safe, nurturing place to learn and grow. But for many Black families, getting that support is far from simple. A new report from the Equity Research Action Coalition (ERAC) at the UNC Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute (FPG), The Care Divide: Child Care Access, Cost, and Quality for Black Families, takes a closer look at what families are experiencing and what it will take to close the gap.

The report is part of a series from the UNC-Gallup Black Family Census, which is part of ERAC's larger Black FA3M Study. The census surveyed a nationally representative group of more than 500 Black adults from across the United States. Because national data often miss the full picture of Black family life, the study looks at families through a strengths-based lens. It shows the real challenges families face while also recognizing their resilience, resourcefulness, and determination.

Black families count on child care as essential support for both work and their children's development. Yet many face a set of connected hurdles:

• High costs. Child care can take a large bite out of a family's budget. (The report says child care for two young children is nearly $30,000, which is about 52% of the typical Black household’s income.) 
• Limited choices. Families often have few options that truly fit their needs, including their work schedules, location, and transportation. 
• Patchwork arrangements. Many families rely on informal care, such as relatives, friends, and neighbors, or piece together several arrangements to cover the week.  
• Questions of quality and trust. Parents want care that is reliable, high quality, and a good fit for their child and family.

The report's central message is that simply adding more child care slots is not enough. For care to be truly accessible, it must also be affordable, high quality, dependable, and trusted by the families it serves. That takes thoughtful action from policymakers, program leaders, employers, and community partners who want to make sure every child has a strong start and every parent can work with confidence. 

“It is essential,” said Iheoma Iruka, PhD, ERAC's founding director, “that we create a family-centered system that moves beyond access to one that attends to experiences and ensuring families have a ‘real choice’ that honors family needs and value.”

Read the full report and explore the full findings via the ERAC website.