Transcript:
Asha McKenzie, NJ PBS: For many New Jersey families, the high cost of child care is forcing them to make tough financial decisions, asking themselves, can I afford quality care for my child and still make ends meet?
Jai Gorrell, parent: There's no choice because in order to work, you have to have your child in a safe spot, in order to have them in a safe space, and you have to pay for it.
Asha McKenzie: But just how much are parents paying across the state? Full -time care for an infant can cost families between $18 ,000 and $20 ,000 a year on average, and toddler care, about $17 ,000. In some cases, that is more than tuition at a state college.
Winifred Smith-Jenkins, Advocates for Children of New Jersey: Completely unaffordable for most families, and yet they have to work, go to school, or a combination of both.
Asha McKenzie: Now the fight to make child care more affordable is heating up in Trenton. Parents, advocates, and child care providers, along with Start Strong New Jersey, rallied outside the statehouse, calling on state leaders to do one thing, make child care help accessible to all. Because it's not just hurting parents' wallets, but providers' bottom line as well.
Hope Crumbley, owner, Hope's Heavenly Hands: I just lost two three -year -olds, and that hurt me financially, so much so that I had to go and take a part -time job, which I didn't want to do, but you have to do what you need to do to sustain your family.
Asha McKenzie: The group is pushing to expand eligibility for New Jersey's child care assistance program, asking the governor to increase state funding so more families can qualify.
Sharon Levine, campaign director, Start Strong NJ: Two parents earning minimum wage in New Jersey, and the state has done so much to qualify for the child care assistance program. So we're asking the state for increased investment and expanded eligibility to help more families qualify for this critical support.
Asha McKenzie: Advocates took that message beyond the rally, packing this joint assembly hearing to bring these concerns straight to lawmakers to address this growing affordability issue.
Court speaker: Because parents are facing an impossible choice, pay the child care bill or pay the heating bill.
Assemblywoman Shanique Speight (D, NJ-29): Quite a few providers are under -enrolled, and so some of them are also facing closing And if these centers are not in the heart of the community, then our parents won't have access to these child care centers.
Asha McKenzie: Is there a chance that there will be anything in the future when it comes to bills or pushing to make child care more affordable in New Jersey?
Asm. Shanique Speight: And that's one of the reasons why we're having this hearing, so we can come up with some policy and some solutions. Now
Asha McKenzie: the question is, how soon will lawmakers turn these concerns into policy and put more financial relief on the kitchen table for New Jersey families who desperately need it? In Trenton, Asha McKenzie, NJ PBS News.
Rob Nelson: Asha McKenzie, thank you so much for that report.