ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Child care is a number one priority for many women across the state of Missouri according to a progress report.
According to United WE's Status of American Women research report, they found that child care was the number one issue for women and the biggest reason for why women suffered more economic setbacks more than men did during the pandemic.
"This was not something that was on our radar," said United WE President and CEO Wendy Doyle, "It was the result of our Status of American Women research report, and following that, getting out (on the streets) and listening to women in these town hall settings."
Missouri Lawmakers most recently approved a $78.5 million funding increase to child care providers from the state to serve low-income families earlier this year that went into effect in July. However, child care, especially in the rural area still remains a issue as nearly one in five kids under the age of five in the state live in a child care 'desert'.
"We know in the state of Missouri, there are alot of child care 'deserts', mostly in rural parts of the state. "We need to get to work to come up with innovative solutions."
Doyle says one big concern to keep in mind is that federal funding from the American Rescue Plan runs out at the end of the month, and it could cause a projected 70,000 child care closures across the country and 3 million children being displaced not having childcare.
"Our concern with United We is that with the potential of significant closure as a result of federal funding drying up, will this put women being forced to choose between work and family," said Doyle, "What we can see potentially is what happened during the pandemic."
Doyle says a big focus for United We going forward is to research for an "in-home" solution for child care.
"We're investing in a national research study looking at every state's child care facility, licensing requirement," said Doyle, "What this research will tell us is really going to highlight is an in home solution."
According to the report by United We, they also found that the broadband access and paid family leave also remain up high in economic issues for women in the state of Missouri.